Sleuths failed to crack codes in intercepted calls

Atif had instructed Asadullah to procure ball-bearings from Lucknow due to heightened security in Delhi, following blasts in Ahmedabad in 2008. The agency after arresting Asadullah had obtained his voice sample, which was then sent for forensic analysis.

The forensic report was received by the police on March 19. The chargesheet said, “As per CFSL report, the sample voice of accused Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi has matched with already intercepted voice calls. This scientific evidence clearly proves the involvement of accused Asadullah.”

According to the chargesheet, the first call was intercepted on September 7, 2008, five days ahead of the Karol Bagh blasts, between Atif and Asadullah, and as per the plan one of their associates Mohd Hakim alias Bagga (arrested) brought the cycle balls from Lucknow to Delhi.

Investigators said the inputs were generated by intelligence agencies soon after the July 2008 Ahmedabad blasts, but they were not able to decipher them as the two didn’t have a detailed talk on the operation. The police also said that the mobile number of Atif, who also took part in Ahmedabad bombings, was under surveillance after the attack.

Besides, Asadullah, the chargesheet also names Yasin for allegedly preparing the 10 IEDs on instructions of Riyaz Bhatkal at his Koppa farmhouse in Chikmangalur. The IEDs were collected by Mohd Saif (arrested) and Mohd Khalid, who is absconding.

The chargesheet said, “All three had lunch together at nearby Manipal university Museum. After lunch, he took both of them to Manipal University Museum. In this meeting he asked Said and Khalid to meet in the evening (at the scheduled) time of Mangla Express train at Udupi railway station to receive the bag of boat-type explosives boxes.”