By IANS,
Mumbai : The Indian Mujahideen (IM) Thursday emerged as the mastermind behind the Feb 13 terror blast in Pune’s German Bakery that killed 17 people, including four foreigners, and injured another 57.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is understood to have identified the IM behind the terror blast, and its founder Riyaz Bhatkal and his relative Yasin Bhatkal as the key conspirators, well-placed ATS sources said.
Home Minister R.R. Patil said in the legislature Thursday that the ATS had identified the perpetrators of the German Bakery blast and some suspects could be arrested shortly.
“The probe is being carried out on a war-footing in co-ordination with other central and state agencies,” Patil said, responding to a discussion on his ministry in the assembly.
He added that some suspects would be rounded up in the next few days and details of the investigations would be made public later.
The developments came shortly after the newly-appointed ATS chief Rakesh Maria submitted a report to the state government earlier this week on the status of the probe.
The Bhatkal duo – hailing from the coastal village of Bhatkal in Karnataka – is absconding.
Suspected initially of involvement in the Pune blast, at least a dozen of the top 22 active members of the IM were detained or questioned by the investigators.
Moreover, the explosive mixture of ammonium nitrate and RDX used in the Pune blast was found similar to the ones used in earlier blasts carried out by IM in Bangalore, New Delhi and Ahmedabad two years ago.
The 21-member IM’s terror module in Mumbai had been unearthed by Maria – then heading the Mumbai Police Crime Branch – and its involvement in several blasts around the country came to light.