Is the kingpin behind the Hubli-Bengaluru terror module, the Saudi Arabia based Majid Bilal? Sleuths told Deccan Chronicle that Majid is the younger brother of slain HuJI commander Shahid Bilal, who was the main accused in the 2008 Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad. Shahid was shot dead in Pakistan in 2007, reportedly a week before the Mecca Masjid blast.
The probe so far has seen Majid emerge as the handler of the terror module that was busted in Bengaluru and Hubli. He co-planned the conspiracy with Zakeer alias Ustad, who in turn was in direct contact with the 14 arrested so far by Bengaluru police. According to sources, Majid had established contact with many young people in Hyderabad, just like his elder brother, Samad and Shahid Bilal before him. Investigations have revealed that the local mastermind Zakeer was in touch with Majid throughout.
Majid’s brother Shahid Bilal was in charge of all HuJI operations in AP by 2005. He was reportedly in Saudi Arabia during 2002-2003 and recruited several youth from Hyderabad. He had come back to Hyderabad in 2005 and planned the Mecca Masjid blast, which took place in 2007. In the same year, within a week of the blast, Shahid was reportedly shot dead in Karachi while his elder brother Samad was also reportedly killed in a shootout. Majid was actively involved in regrouping contacts developed by Shahid.