Mumbai police file chargesheet against IM members

Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against 21 members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), accusing them of plotting and carrying out blasts in the country in the last three years, including the 2008 bombings in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi.

The group, including three IT professionals, has been charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) Act.

The document, which runs into more than 1,800 pages and charges the 21 with a series of crimes ranging from murder to waging war against the country, was filed before the MCOCA Special Court Judge Y D Shinde.

Besides the 21, at least six other accused have been named as absconders in the chargesheet. The matter will come up for hearing March 25.

The list of 21 includes Mohammed Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, alias Munna, of Pune, who had earlier offered to turn approver and then declined.

Minutes before the July 26 serial bombing in Ahmedabad, which killed 59 people, as well as the Sep 13 attack in New Delhi that claimed 26 lives, the IM had sent out warning emails to the print media and electronic media houses. They hacked unsecured wi-fi Internet accounts - two in Mumbai (Khalsa College and a private company in Chembur suburb) and one in Navi Mumbai's Sanpada suburb, belonging to an American Ken Haywood.

The Ahmedabad blasts were preceded by bombings in Bangalore on July 25.

While the Mumbai Police nabbed five alleged IM terrorists on September 23 last year, the other 16 were nabbed from different parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, the following fortnight.

The IT professionals nabbed are:

Peerbhoy, alias Munna, 31, who worked as a principal software engineer in a MNC on a salary of Rs.1.9 million per annum; Salman Kadar Shaikh alias Mobin, 24, who served as a senior technical adviser in an IT firm; and Asif Bashiruddin Shaikh, 22, a mechanical engineer.

They were instructed to send the emails a few minutes before the blasts in Ahmedabad and Delhi, which they did on the dot, said Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor.

The others are:

• Dastagir Feroze Mujawar, alias Afrosh, 25, a commerce graduate who has been training youth in Jehadi activities
• Mohammed Atik Mohammed Iqbal, 25, a computer science graduate and an active member of IM terror modules
• Anique Shafique Syed, 27, who runs a computer and mobile retail shop and was actively involved in the Surat and Ahmedabad blasts
• Majid Akthar Shaikh, 26, who runs a mobile phone repairs and servicing shop and is an active member of IM terror modules
• Yasir Anis Syed, alias Huzefa, 20, runs a computer and mobile reparing shop, active member of IM and accused of criminal conspiracy
• Syed Mohammed Naushad, alias Sayedna, 25, a civil works contractor based in Mangalore who was involved in planting the Surat bombs
• Javed Mohammed Ali, 19, an Islamic studies scholar active with IM terror modules
• Farooq Sharifuddin Tarkash, alias Abdullah, 25, a computer science graduate, member of IM terror modules and was trained by Riyaz Bhatkal in Karnataka
• Mohammed Ali Ahmed, 44, a civilian works contractor from Mangalore, who also runs a safe house for IM members
• Ahmed Bawa Abubakar, alias Abu, 33, a farmer by profession, nabbed for his role in Surat and Ahmedabad blasts
• Faisal-e-Rehma Muskhan Durrani, 23, a robber on police records, also involved in Surat and Ahmedabad blasts
• Mohammed Mutalib Usmani
• Mohammed Sadik Israr Ahmed Shaikh
• Mohammed Arif Badruddin Shaikh
• Mohammed Zakir Abdul Haz Shaikh
• Ansar Ahmed Bashah Shaikh
• Mohammed Akbar Ismail Choudhary alias Syed alias Yakub
• Anwar Ali Bagwan, a doctor.