Indian Mujahideen man held for role in 2011 blasts

On July 13, 2011, between 6.52 pm and 7.05 pm, three bombs placed at Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar Kabootar Khana and Opera House set off, killing 27 and injuring 127 people in the crowded market areas.

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials on Tuesday arrested an Indian Mujahideen operative wanted in connection with the 13/7 Mumbai blasts. The accused has been identified as Zainul Aabedin and was nabbed from the Mumbai International airport.

Addressing the media, inspector general of police, ATS, Maharashtra Niket Kaushik, said that the accused was travelling to his hometown, Bhatkal. “We received a tip-off that the accused would be landing at the airport and hence we laid a trap accordingly.”

The ATS, during the investigation of the bomb blasts that rocked Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar Kabootar Khana, found about the involvement of Aabedin. “We had issued a Red Corner Notice against him in 2015 after his name cropped up in connection with bringing the explosives to Mumbai,” said Mr Kaushik.

The blasts that occurred on July 13, 2011 left 27 dead and 127 injured. Officials had found that the blast was the handiwork of Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist organisation, which is involved in more than 10 blasts across the country, including the 2013 Bodh Gaya blasts.

The 26-year-old operative is originally from Bhatkal in Karnataka and is the twelfth person to be arrested in connection with the 2011 blasts. “He was arrested at 5.30 am after he landed at the airport from an overseas flight,” said Mr Kaushik. He had a specific role in the blasts and that involved procurement and transportation of explosives used in the blast,” said Mr Kaushik. Sources mentioned that Aabedin was travelling alone.

He added that Aabedin was an active member of the IM and was most likely involved in other blasts. Aabedin is also on the wanted list of Karnataka and Gujarat ATS and the National Investigative Agency (NIA) for his alleged involvement in various terrorist acts. “His arrest will help us piece together the conspiracy and also lead to other names and whereabouts of absconding accused,” said Mr Kaushik.

Sources said that Aabedin was in 2015 detained in Saudi Arabia. He is allegedly close to Riyaz Bhatkal, an IM operative suspected to be in Pakistan. “He was involved in the triple blasts in Mumbai and was allegedly in touch with Yasin Bhatkal, an accused who planted one of the explosives in the blast and is alleged to be one of the founding members of the Indian Mujahideen. He was arrested from Nepal in 2013.

Aabedin’s role came to fore after the one accused from Karnataka was arrested by the ATS last year and questioned regarding his role in the Mumbai blasts. Sources mentioned that seven other accused were absconding in the bomb blast case.

“We have also got the name of one more accused and identified him as Afif Jeelani and are trying to investigate his whereabouts,” said a top ATS official.

After his arrest, Aabedin was produced in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court and has been remanded to police custody till May 6. He has been booked under Sections 302, 307, 325, 379, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Explosive Substance Act, Indian Explosive Act and Prevention of Defacement of Public Property ACT and will also be tried under MCOCA.