Jama Masjid blast: Police files charge sheet against IM men

Delhi Police has chargesheeted three suspected operatives of banned outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) for allegedly supplying explosives used for carrying out a blast near Jama Masjid here in September 2010, allegedly at the behest of Pakistan-based IM co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal.
The police filed the charge sheet against Syed Ismail Affaque, Abdus Saboor and Riyaz Ahmad Sayeedi for various alleged offences under IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, Information Technology Act and Arms Act.
The charge sheet was filed before Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh who took cognisance on it and fixed the matter for February 9.
In its charge sheet, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has alleged that Affaque, an Ayurvedic doctor by profession, had met IM co-founders Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal and gone to Pakistan where he was trained in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

In early 2010, Affaque was instructed by Riyaz Bhatkal to receive a consignment of explosive containing gelatin sticks and detonators from Sayeedi, it alleged.
Regarding Saboor, the police claimed that he had received explosives from Affaque and delivered it to a person in Mangalore.

"Investigation has also revealed that explosive was also provided by A-1 (Affaque) on the instructions of Riyaz Bhatkal and Afeef (another IM operative) in 2011 which was used in 2011 Mumbai blast, 2012 Pune blast and 2013 Hyderabad blast," the charge sheet said.
The case pertains to an explosion in a bomb fitted in a car near the historic Jama Masjid here on September 19, 2010 soon after two suspected IM operatives had fired at a bus from which foreign tourists were descending near a gate of the mosque.

Two Taiwanese tourists had sustained bullet injuries in the firing incident for which a separate case was lodged.
The police had earlier chargesheeted 11 other suspected IM members, including its arrested co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, in connection with the blast case.
In its charge sheet filed against the three accused, the
police said they had conspired with other IM members to carry out a terror strike in Delhi.
"From the investigation conducted so far against the arrested accused persons, it has been established that accused number 1 (Affaque), being a member of IM, had entered into a conspiracy along with other co-conspirators for commission of terrorist act in Delhi at Jama Masjid with intent to threaten the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India....," it said.

The three accused were arrested last year in connection with the case.
The police had earlier said IM operatives had planned that foreign tourists found near Jama Masjid would be randomly shot and a bomb blast would be executed there for maximum casualty.
It had claimed that Yasin Bhatkal had prepared a pressure cooker IED, which was planted in the car parked outside Jama Masjid, and an explosion had taken place.