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 Though the BJP chief in Andhra Pradesh, G Kishan Reddy, has reportedly received a letter, allegedly from terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claiming responsibility for the recent Hyderabad blasts and threatening more such attacks, top officials in the Mangalore police, who were instrumental in nabbing Indian Mujahideen (IM) men in 2008, are certain that it was their handiwork. They said the attack carries all the trademark characteristics of the IM’s modus operandi.

 
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, a senior official said, “Ahmed Bava, who was picked from Haleyangadi near Mangalore, has confessed his role in the blast in Hyderabad’s Lumbini Garden. He said Syed Ahmed Zarar Siddibappa aka Yasin Bhatkal, IM’s operational commander who gave a slip to police on several occasions, Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder of IM, and Ahmed Bava had actually planned to plant the bomb in Sardar Sarovar. They had selected the place because the damage would have been much higher when compared to Lumbini Garden. However, because of tight security on that day, they chose Lumbini Garden.”
 
Modus operandi
For all the IM sponsored blasts of the past, the material for making the bomb were sourced from Mangalore or Udupi. Bava told the police that a person would just come and give them the required material. IM has never used RDX. The materials used are gelatin sticks, ammonium nitrate and detonators. Most of these materials are available in local quarries and crushers. Sadly, the police have not been able to trace the source of these materials, said the official.
 
The timers for the bombs are mostly purchased in Pune. Once the area for the attack is decided, a group of IM men would rent a house, often under fake names, and stay there for a short period. As soon as the material for making the bomb reaches them they begin work. Once the bomb is ready, a recce is conducted. The bomb is planted and timed and an hour before the blast terrorists would leave the place. The reason why they use a cycle is that it is easily available and often cops do not search cycles.
 
IM’s coastal reach
The Dakshina Kannada district police, Anti Naxal Force, KSRP and Mumbai police raided several places in Mangalore on Oct 3, 2008 and picked Mohamed Ali of Mukkacheri in Ullal, his son Javed Ali, Naushad, resident of Subhash Nagar, and Ahmed Bava of Haleyangadi were picked in connection with the Delhi, Mumbai and Surat blasts. About 15 days later the police picked Rafiq who worked as a driver for Riyaz Bhatkal as well as Fakir Bava of Mallur in Udupi district.
 
The police then busted explosive manufacturing unit in Koppa and seized items like the gunpowder, chemical thermometer, chemical solutions, carpentry kit, electrical kits, mixing jars, bow and arrow, air gun and a tent. The explosives were being manufactured at Hakkalamane and Vittalamakki in Koppa.
 
The next to be arrested was Shabeer Gangoli an IM instructor. He is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. Qayamuddin Kapadia, an explosives expert from Vadodara and alleged plotter of the Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts was later arrested from Ujjain by Madhya Pradesh police. He too had allegedly visited Mangalore and stayed in a house at Ullal, said sources.