Interrogation of Patna blast mastermind and key Indian Mujahideen operative Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu has revealed that tourists were on the target of the terrorists.
For targeting tourists, the Indian Mujahideen has done recce of major tourist hotspots like Agra, Jodhpur and Bharatpur, police sources said on Wednesday.
“Monu has told us that they had recceed Agra (UP), Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Gopalgarh (all in Rajasthan),” said a senior police official.
Although he did not go to Taj Mahal but they surveyed neighbouring areas which have heavy tourist presence, he said.
23-year-old Akhtar, who was born in Darbhanga, Bihar was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police from Indo-Nepal border from Kakarvitta area in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. He was acting as the chief of IM’s India operations after the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal. He was wanted for a series of terrorist strikes spread over various States.
Another revelation done by Akhtar, which investigators term ‘disturbing’ is that he claims that the blasts in Patna at Narendra Modi’s rally in October last year where “essentially” carried out by Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and that IM had no direct connection in it.
“This is disturbing as SIMI has earlier not carried out a direct terror strike,” the official said.
However, investigators are taking Akhtar ‘s claim with a pinch of salt.
“He said that the Patna serial blasts were essentially a SIMI work. He was in contact with them but was not involved in the bombings. However, we don’t agree with him and we are investigating how much was he involved,” the official said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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