Indian Mujahideen, LeT on suspect list in Pune terror attack

Pune, Feb 15 (ANI): Investigating agencies on Monday did not rule out the possibility of a joint effort, involving the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activists in the explosion that took place at the German Bakery, located close to the Osho Ashram and Chabad House, a Jewish prayer house, at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is likely to question Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad, who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) ATS and is presently in the custody of Delhi Police's special cell.

UP ATS is also planning to question Shahzad, after the Union Home Ministry issued an alert for Kanpur along with Delhi and Indore.

During earlier interrogations, Shahzad had reportedly told the police that an Indian Mujahideen terror module was active in Pune.

Security officials claimed that the Indian Mujahideen has links with Pakistan- based LeT terror outfit, and the two have been trying to regroup and launch a series of attacks at places visited frequently by foreign tourists.

Investigating agencies are seeing the involvement of Indian Mujahiden activists as the date of the Pune terror attacks is part of the pattern that the group has followed since the Jaipur serial blast- that is to strike either on 13th or 26th.

As reported, the last five major attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, took place on these two dates.

An Indian Mujahideen operative Mohsin Chaudhary has emerged as a key suspect in Saturday's blast. He has been on the run, but the police believe that he has not left the country. Chaudhary is wanted in connection to the Ahmedabad and Delhi serial bomb blasts case.

The bomb, which killed nine people and wounded at least 57, is seen as the first major attack on India since the 2008 Mumbai massacre and appeared to target Indian and foreign tourists.

Nine people, including two foreigners, were killed and around 50 injured including 12 foreign nationals- five Iranians, two each from Sudan and Nepal, one each from Yeman, Taiwan and Germany in Saturday's bomb blast at the German Bakery.(ANI)