BOMBAY, 2 November 2006 — After initially being reluctant to confirm whether Muslims or Hindu militants were behind the four bomb explosions in Malegaon, Indian police now claim that the bombings — which targeted Muslims — were the handiwork of Muslim fanatics carried out with an aim to foment communal rifts between Hindus and Muslims.
Director General of Maharashtra Police Dr. Pavender Singh Pasricha claimed that Noorul Huda, an activist of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), had confessed to planting the bombs at Bada Kabarastan (Big Graveyard).
“We are exploring his other connections including that with Shabbir Ahmed Ansari Mushirulla alias Shabbir Batterywala, another accused in the Malegaon blasts,” said Pasricha. Speaking to journalists Pasricha said, “I am extremely happy to say that we have made a major breakthrough in the Malegaon blast case. A SIMI activist called Noorul Huda has been arrested. He has confessed to planting the bombs and gave details of the entire plot.”
Pasricha added, “He was produced before a court, which has remanded him to police custody until Nov. 3. The other person who is the main plotter behind the blasts, Raees Ahmed, will also be arrested for his involvement in the Malegaon blasts after his police remand in relation to another case expires on Nov. 5,” Pasricha said.
Azad Nagar police in Malegaon arrested Huda on Oct. 8. He was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and had been under the surveillance of the intelligence agencies for several years because of his association with SIMI. When journalists asked Pasricha how could Huda play an active role in the blasts despite being under police vigilance, the police official said, “It’s true that the police had a dossier on Huda. However, we do not keep round-the-clock surveillance on people. We presently know a lot more than I can reveal at this stage, as it would affect the investigations, but I can say that the ball has been set in motion and one arrest will lead to another.”A top official at the State Intelligence Department (SID) said that it is now nearly confirmed that SIMI activists carried out the blasts in Malegaon. “The arrest of Noorul Huda has given the Maharashtra police a big breakthrough in the Malegaon blasts,” the official said.
Another police official said that Shabbir Batterywala had close ties with Mohammed Ali, who is suspected of being involved in the Bombay serial train blasts. He also added that there was a strong possibility that the arrested SIMI activists had links with those accused of being behind the blasts.
The police official added that the people involved in the Bombay blasts used Ali’s Bombay residence to assemble pressure cooker bombs. It was not clear though whether Ali had also planned in plotting the Malegaon blasts, the police officials said.
Top ranking police officers said that SIMI, which had allegedly played a key role in the blasts, tactfully chose Malegaon, known for its history of fragile communal peace. However doubts still exist in the minds of the Muslim community whether the arrested Muslim youths were the real culprits or just framed to bring the case to an end.
