'IM Man Waqas Learnt Bomb Making Under Pakistan's ISI'

On reaching India, he joined a mobile training centre to learn how to use a mobile as detonator and tried to replicate sticky bombs used during the Israel embassy attack.
'IM Man Waqas Learnt Bomb Making Under Pakistan's ISI'

Suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Zia Ur Rehman alias Waqas, a Pakistani national, had been trained in bomb-making for around 40 days in Pakistan with the help of the ISI.

On reaching India, he joined a mobile training centre in Mumbai where he learnt how to use a mobile as a detonator. He also experimented on making the sticky bomb that was used during the attack on the Israel embassy vehicle in New Delhi in 2012.

Special commissioner of Delhi police (Special cell) S N Srivastva said that Waqas, who was allegedly involved in at least five cases of terrorist strikes in India, underwent two separate training sessions in Pakistan under several trainers where he learnt bomb making.

Srivastva said, in 2009, Waqas, after hearing certain false and fabricated facts about India’s Kashmir region, came in contact with Taj Mohammed, who, after examining the former’s consistency and sincerity, enrolled him in the patrol of 20 to 25 youths. Taj Mohammed is believed to be an ISI man. “Waqas underwent a ‘daura-amma’ training for 21 days in Naushera area in Pakistan where he learnt how to use various weapons including the Ak 47 under the close supervision of Abu Bakar, Abdulla, Asan, Azhar and Naeem, all trainers and under the leadership of one Abu Manjoor,” Srivastva said.

“Jihad was being preached and weapon training to operate arms including AK-47, Grenades, GK Gun and pistols were imparted simultaneously,” said Srivastva.

He further opted to undergo a separate training class in Waziristan’s Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), also known as Marghas-A-Aksa, which is considered to be intensive training in handling of arms and ammunition and in preparing IEDs based on Hydrogen Peroxide (liquid form), Potassium Chloride and Ammonium Nitrate.

When Waqas landed in Nepal in September 2010, he met Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu, the absconding suspected terrorist, and Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi. From Nepal, Waqas came to Bihar where he met Yaseen Bhatkal and other members of the Bihar module of the IM and decided to carryout blasts in India.

In June 2011, Waqas, Yasin, Haddi and Monu carried out blasts at Opera House and Zaveri Bazar in Mumbai. Srivastva, however, claimed due to security reasons, they dropped plans to carry out blasts at Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai. They got Rs.1 lakh from Pakistan to carry out terror strikes in Mumbai, he added.

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