How Indian Mujahideen is trying to resurrect itself

Investigations into the Varansi blast reveal that the Indian Mujahideen is back in action and is all set to pump fresh blood into its outfit, reports Vicky Nanjappa.

The Varanasi blast came as a wake up call for the country, especially for the security agencies, who belived that the terror group Indian Mujahideen was decimated. The IM claimed responsibility for the Decmber 7 blasts, only to prove that the outfit is opreational and efforts are being made to breathe new life into it.

Investigations into the blast have revealed the names of the perpetrators of the terror attack.

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After ascertaining that the IM indeed was behind the blast, the police were on the trail of the operatives who planted the bombs. Sources tell rediff.com that the men who planted the bombs were migrant workers and have managed to flee to Bangladesh.

"We have alerted our counterparts in Bangladesh who are on the look out for these men. Investigating agencies suspect that there may have been three men who planted the explosives," say invetsigators. They suspect that one of the three IM operatives could be taking refuge in West Bengal and the police have been put on high alert.

Meanwhile, Indian intelligence agencies have drawn out a list of 31 suspected terrorists, of which 19 belong to the IM. However, nabbing them is a huge taks as most of these 31 wanted terrorists have fled to Sharjah, Dubai and Pakistan.

Names of key IM leaders -- Dr Shahnawaz, Asadullah Akthar, Mohammad Sajid, Khalid, the Bhatkal brothers, Riyaz and Iqbal, appear in the list. These men pose a major threat to India as they are constanly working out plans to re-organise the IM and nabbing them has become a priority, say sources from the Intelligence Bureau.

According to Indian intel agencies, the biggest task that lies ahead of them is cracking down on the Bhatkal brothers since they have fled to Pakistan. The others who are taking refuge in Sharjah, Dubai and Oman could be extradited due to friendly ties with these nations.

Meanwhile, the IB has its eyes fixed on towns like Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and Bhatkal in caostal Karnataka. The big names in the IM has hailed from these towns and the agencies are now looking for those people who are closely assocaited with the terror outfit.

The IB says that there has been a lot of movement in these places and there are plenty of disgruntled youth who are ready to take to violence. Most of the youth feel wronged by certain incidents against the minoirty community and believe that they should take revenge.

The top bosses of the IM are tapping the young generation in these towns and training them to spread terror across the country.

The police are also nvestigating how IM got funds to carry out the Varnasi blast.

The outfit was worried that due to its depleting stength it may find it difficult to coax financers and sympathisers to cough up money for their operations. Investigations have revealed that the IM made a few extortion calls to businessmen in Kolkata. However, this part of the probe is being handled by the National Investigation Agency.

Based on the inputs the NIA received from the police, they will carry out the investigations and will also question the businessmen who have been complaining of extortion calls.

In the past, the IM had demanded from businessmen money to the tune of Rs 30 crore for its terror fund. Some entreprenuers have logded a complaint with the police, but many have given in.

The police say that these extortion calls have mainly been made from Pakistan by Amir Raza Khan and his aide Khaiyam, both IM operatives.