Banglore, June 29: Was Chennai also supposed to witness serial blasts along with Bangalore in July 2008? If Bangalore blast accused Sarfaraz Nawaz’s statement is to be believed, then ‘Yes’; the city was on the LeT radar.
Sarfaraz’s interrogation has revealed that terrorists had planned to carry out blasts in Bangalore and Chennai simultaneously.
However, the LeT leaders in Pakistan changed the plan at the last minute as carrying out blasts in two places at the time requires lot of planning, logistical support and more number of people.
LeT member Sarfaraz Nawaz and Ummer Haji, a Indian Mujahideen member of the Kerala module, who fled to Bangladesh, had hatched a plan to carry out serial bomb blasts in the two state capitals.
But the plan to execute blasts in Chennai was ‘postponed’ by a top LeT leader Wali, alias Reehan, alias Shameem, who is in charge of Gulf region, in January 2008.
Wali asked Sarfaraz to convince Ummar Haji, alias Naseer, to target a single city, using as few people as possible, so that the loss could be minimised in case something goes wrong.
This revelation was made by Sarfaraz Nawaz to the investigator from ATC, Bangalore, after his arrest in February this year.
In January 2008, Ummer Haji called up Sarfaraz and told him that an important operation had to be carried out in two places (Chennai and Bangalore).
He said around Rs 2 lakh rupees would be required for the operation and asked Sarfaraz whether he could arrange for the money.
Sarfaraz, with the help of Ali Abdul Aziz Hooti, (said to detained by Oman police) met Wali in Sharjah as instructed by him.
Wali suggested Sarfaraz to carry out blasts in Bangalore as it was the nerve-centre of Indian IT industry. Besides, an attack on Bangalore would attract the attention of the media and the world.
In the discussion, Wali told Sarafaraz that Ummer Haji would not have any direct involvement in the blasts; and that he would leave the place before the blasts happened.
Wali also agreed to make arrangements for the money (Rs 2 lakh).
–Agencies