How IM's top terrorist helped sleuths nab Zaveri Bazaar bomber

Indian Mujahideen’s new chief Tehsin Akhtar was arrested quite a few days ago, but security agencies decided to keep the news under wraps to entrap fellow terror operative Waqar Ahmed and three other terrorists of the IM.

Tehsin was arrested from Samastipur near the India-Nepal border in Bihar, said sources in the Intelligence Bureau.

Tehsin was on his way to Nepal to raise funds to organise more terror strikes, said sources.

During interrogation, he revealed that IM terrorists were planning a major operation in Rajasthan and told his interrogators about Waqas Ahmed, a Pakistan-based operative and an expert bomb-maker.

Tehsin told his interrogators that he was in touch with Waqas via e-mail.

This is when security agencies realised that they could nab Waqas and other IM operatives -- who did not yet know that Tehsin has been arrested -- by using the IM chief.

They made Tehsin send out a mail to Waqas, asking the latter to meet him at a spot in Ajmer.

When Waqas reached the rendezvous spot at Ajmer, he found officials of the Intelligence Bureau and Delhi police waiting for him, along with local policemen.

Waqas told investigators that he, along with three other operatives, was planning to target political leaders on the campaign trail as well as bomb a luxury train in the desert state.

Waqas then revealed the whereabouts of his three associates, who were arrested promptly by Delhi police.

Image: Tehsin Akhtar