Azamgarh, the terror cradle of India, is once again on the counter-terrorism radar after the February 21 Hyderabad bomb blasts, which killed 16 people and injured 119. Intelligence agencies and the Andhra Pradesh police are tracking the pugmarks of absconding high profile operatives of Indian Mujahideen (IM), the outfit suspected to have carried out the blasts with the help of their Pakistan-based mentors. Sources said that they have come across telephone intercepts through SUSTEL—the electronic system monitoring of terrorist chatter—showing that Assadullah Akhtar alias Tabrez, a leading operative of the Azamgarh module of IM, has been active in South India of late.
“Assadullah was seen in some southern states. Simultaneously, we had tracked the footprints of the Nepal module as well in those states. Immediately afterwards, an initial terror alert was issued by the central intelligence agencies on February 16,” says an intelligence source.
Assadullah is the son of a leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr Javed Akhtar, based in Azamgarh. He is also suspected to be involved in the Pune blasts in August 2012. “Two other Pune bombers are missing, and we are tracking them,” says the intelligence source.
Twenty Bloody Years
Since 1993, when RDX was first used to trigger blasts, India has been a soft target.
3 Alerts sent
According to the Union Home Ministry officials, three alerts—one specific and two general—were sent to states since Tuesday.
Alert 1
Nature: General To Whom: All states.
Date of Alert: Feb 19 Sent by: Central security agencies
What: State police forces advised to tighten security in sensitive places as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen may launch attacks to avenge the Kasab-Guru hangings.
Alert 2
Nature: General
To Whom: All states
Date of Alert: Feb 20 Sent by: Central security agencies What: Indian Mujahideen may carry out terror attacks in a major cities to avenge the hanging of Kasab and Afzal Guru.
Alert 3
Nature: Specific To Whom: Police forces of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Hubli, Maharashtra and Gujarat Date of Alert: Feb 21
Sent by: Central security agencies What: Possible attack by a Pakistan-based terrorist group.
Major bomb explosions that have rocked India in two decades
Feb 21, 2013: Hyderabad
Two high intensity blasts rocked Dilsukhnagar, leaving 16 dead and about 119 injured.
13 July 2011: Mumbai
Three simultaneous blasts ripped through Zaveri Bazaar, Opera Hotel and Dadar killing 21 and injuring 141.
Feb 13, 2010: Pune (German Bakery)
The blast in Koregaon Park around 7.15 pm killed 17 and injured at least 60.
Oct 30, 2008: Assam
Over a dozen-intensity blasts in Ganeshguri, Dispur and Guwahati killed 75 and injured 350.
September 13, 2008: Delhi
Nine bombs, five consecutive explosions over killed 23 people and injured 110.
July 26, 2008: Ahmedabad
A series of 21 bomb blasts hit Ahmedabad within a span of 70 minutes killing 56 and injuring over 200.
July 25, 2008: Bangalore
Nine low intensity blasts killed three and injured 20 people.
May 13, 2008: Jaipur
A series of nine blasts within fifteen minutes left 63 dead with more than 216 people injured.
Aug 25, 2007: Hyderabad
At least 40 people were killed and scores injured in two powerful terror blasts.
May 18, 2007: Hyderabad
Eleven worshippers were killed during Friday prayers at a mosque. Police later shot dead five people in clashes.
Feb 18, 2007: Samjhauta Express,
Panipat
A bomb exploded around midnight on the Samjhauta Express killing 68.
Sept 8, 2006: Malegaon
At least 37 people are killed in a series of explosions, one near a mosque.
July 11, 2006: Mumbai
Seven explosions ripped through the first class compartments of suburban trains killing more than 150 and injuring at least 400.
March 7, 2006: Varanasi
Explosions at Sankat Mochan temple killed 20 and left over 100 injured.
October 29, 2005: New Delhi
At least 70 persons were killed in three powerful serial explosions.
July 29, 2005: Jaunpur
At least 10 were killed and 50 injured in the explosion on the Shramjivi Express.
July 28, 2005: jaunpur
At least 14 persons were killed and over 79 injured in an explosion on Delhi-bound Shramjeevi Express in Uttar Pradesh.
Aug 15, 2004: Assam
Explosions killed 16—mostly schoolchildren. The ULFA targetted an official celebration triggering a blast at Dhemaji. Aug 25, 2003: Mumbai
Two simultaneous blasts in taxis killed 52 people and injured more than 100.
Feb 14, 1998: Coimbatore
The attack left 46 people killed and over 200 injured.
May 2, 1996: Delhi
The blast 1996 killed 13 and injured 39.
March 12, 1993: Bombay
A series of bomb blasts ripped through 13 places in the city, killing 257 people and injuring 713. RDX was first used.
MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACKS CARRIED OUT BY INDIAN MUJAHIDEEN WITH SUPPORT OF LASHKAR-E-TAIBA, JAISH-e-Mohammad & HuJI
August 25, 2007, Hyderabad: Two serial blasts at Lumbini amusement park and Gokul Chat Bhandar. HuJI and IM carried out the blast and 42 people were killed. November 23, 2007, Uttar Pradesh: Six Serial Blasts at Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad civil court premises: 15 people were killed.
May 13, 2008, Jaipur: Nine serial bomb blasts at 6 locations in Jaipur. IEDs were mounted on cycles. Nearly 80 people were killed.
July 25, 2008, Bangalore: Eight low intensity serial blasts killed 2.
July 26, 2008, Ahmadabad: Serial blasts in 10 different areas killed 53.The IEDs were planted in tiffin carriers on cycles.
September 13, 2008, Delhi: Five serial blasts in 3 different areas left 24 people killed.
February 13, 2010, Pune: Blast at German Bakery, Pune killed 17. December 7, 2010, Varanasi: Bomb blast at Sheetla Ghat, adjacent to the main Dashashwamedh Ghat killed 2. July 13, 2011, Mumbai: Three serial blasts at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Kabutarkhana killed 26 people.
September 7, 2011, Delhi: Bomb blast at Delhi High Court. Nearly 15 people were killed.
August 1, 2012, Pune: Five low intensity serial blasts at Jangi Maharaj Road. Bombs were mounted on bicycle. One person was injured.
The Sunday Standard