Mumbai blast accused lived in M’lore till Yasin’s arrest
Bengaluru: Waqas alias Ahmed alias Javed – a Pakistani and the alleged main accused of 13/7 Zaveri Bazar serial blasts in Mumbai lived in a rented accommodation in Mangalore, posing as a student until the arrest of terror accused and co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen, Ahmed Sidibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal on August 29 in a joint operation by the NIA and Bihar police.Soon after news broke of Yasin’s arrest, Waqas disappeared from Mangalore. NIA sources said Waqas was last seen living in Flat No. 301, 3rd floor, Zephyr Heights Apartments, Attavar Road, near KMC Hospital, Mangalore. During his interrogation Yasin reportedly told the NIA officers that Waqas is around 24 years old and was specially sent to India by his handlers in the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba in Pakistan for the Zaveri Bazar serial blasts, which claimed 13 lives and injured around 131 people. “He continues to remain in India unlike a claim made by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad,” said an official source.Yasin reportedly recognized Waqas in the CCTV footage of Zaveri bazaar, which was taken minutes before the blasts and told the NIA that he is still in India to execute more terror attacks.According to the Agency, Waqas poses as a student to be able to rent accommodation. He is computer-savvy and frequents cyber cafes. He is fluent in Urdu and Hindi and has a strong Punjabi accent.He is generally dressed in casuals with a half sleeved shirt and pant and wears sports shoes. He is six feet tall; is strong built and walks with a limp.In 2012 the Maharashtra ATS had arrested and later chargesheeted four suspects in the 13/7 blasts - Nadeem Shaikh, Naquee Ahmed, Haroon Naik and Kanwar Pathrija.Nadeem, Naquee and Haroon are allegedly Delhi police informers, who were set up to nab the fugitive terrorists - Yasin, Riyaz and Iqbal Shahbandari alias Bhatkal.
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