The cloth market and Raymond showroom in Chandni Chowk in Delhi and the State Bank of India’s main branch in Srinagar were the two prime targets of the busted LeT module, investigators said. Notably, Ahtisham Ahmed Malik arrested by the Delhi police on Wednesday, was supposed to plant the explosives in Delhi and catch a flight booked for March 5 to Srinagar indicating that the terror attacks were timed closely. Ahtisham’s passport with recent history of travelling to Pakistan has been seized.
Top separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said, “A large number of Kashmiris come to Geelani sahab for recommendation and he gives his recommendation only because they are Kashmiri. It is not written on anyone’s face what is his real intention. How does one know? Moreover, the intentions of the Delhi police is suspect since it has hurled many accusations against Geelani sahab in the past which have proved to be wrong,” he said. Ahtisham is believed to be an expert in making IEDs using sulphuric acid, capsules and fire-crackers, recovered from him.
“The intent was to cause a huge fire in the crowded market in Delhi. The bank in Srinagar is a symbol of the “state’’ and therefore became their target,” a top government official said.
Taufeeq Ahmed Pir, arrested by the Delhi police on Thursday, is Ahtisham’s cousin and is a resident of Sopore in North Kashmir. Police officials said Pir was to travel to Pakistan for training and was aware of Ahtisham’s plans of striking in Delhi. Another person wanted in the case, Muzamil Amin Dar alias Usman, however, has managed to give a slip to the Jammu and Kashmir police, the Delhi police sources said.
Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Arun Kampani said ammunition was recovered from the terrorists and five mobile phones and memory cards showing exclusive videos of their training in Pakistan have also been seized. Investigators said Ahtisham was handled by Lashkar commander Usman in J&K. They said he has also travelled to Pakistan on the Samjhauta Express in the past. Ahtisham is the son of Farooq Malik of Badam Bagh, Sopore, and had been living in Ranchi for the last three years along with his mother. A laboratory technician, Ahtisham was earlier associated with Lashkar in Sopore as an active terrorist and was arrested in 2007 along with two others. Meanwhile, Shafqat Ali Tuggu, 23, who was also arrested, is a BTech degree holder.