Mumbai has been put on red alert after the firing incident at Jama Masjid in Delhi on Sunday morning. Senior officers from the Mumbai police told this newspaper that the attack bears the signature of the Indian Mujahideen and they would now grill the two terrorists arrested last week in the German Bakery blast case to get more details on their module in Delhi.
“After the Delhi incident, Mumbai has been put on high alert. All policemen have been asked to remain alert and increase searches,” city commissioner of police Sanjeev Dayal said.
The Indian Mujahideen sent a five-page email around 1.40 pm to a certain section of the media in which it passed a remark against Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Rakesh Maria.
“We feel sorry to say that Rakesh Maria has shattered the myth of being an intelligent officer by arresting innocent youth who are totally unconcerned in the German Bakery case. The ceaseless urge to show performance has bitten the top cop mad and driven him out of his mind as every other day he pops up with fake accused, thanks to his acumen. Why are you bent to destroy your career for the sake of this anti-Muslim and ignorant R.R. Patil. Remember! We will once again come upon Bombay (sic) if you do not desist. And you know it very well that we @ Indian Mujahideen act as we speak,” the email read.
The IM also expressed its anger at the incident in which a Muslim woman in a burqa was not allowed to enter the KEM Hospital by the police.
The ATS that has arrested the key accused of the Pune German Bakery blast Himayat Baig will now grill him to get more details on their northern module.
“The style of writing matches the Indian Mujahideen’s signature style. While the Delhi police will be investigating the source from where the email must have been sent, we will now question Baig over the members of the Indian Mujahideen in Delhi,” said a senior Anti-Terrorism Squad officer.
According to the officer, Baig was instrumental in merging the sleeper cells of Indian Mujahideen and the members of the Aurangabad module with the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba following which he was made the Maharashtra chief of the LeT.
Baig had gone to Colombo to receive training in terror operations.
“Baig must have met several members of the IM that has now merged with the LeT there. Also, since Baig was close to both Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, the founder members of the IM, he should be able to help us get details about the northern module of the outfit,” he said.
Meanwhile, a similar attack is also apprehended in the city during the final day of Ganesh immersion on September 22 and the verdict on the Babri Masjid demolition case on September 24. “Two terrorists who are already on the loose might become active and do something here,” the officer said. The crime branch had release pictures of two suspected terrorists after they went off the radar of the Intelligence Bureau sleuths that was following their movements.