Batla link in Pune blasts, 3 identified

New Delhi: Investigators have said they have identified the three main accused involved in planting the low-intensity bombs in Pune on August 2. They have been identified as Dr Shahnawaz, Mohammad Sajid alias Bada Sajid and Abbu Rashid. All three are active members of Indian Mujahideen (IM) and part of the 2008 module. They come from Azamgarh in UP.
Sources said the prime eyewitness, a bicycle shop-owner, was shown various sketches based on the descriptions given by him, of suspects in Pune blasts as well as photographs of some IM members. He identified from sketches and photographs the two IM members—Dr Shahnawaz and Sajid Bada. The Ateef Ameen group module of 2008 – one of the biggest modules of IM – still has 13 absconding members.
Sources said that Pune has traditionally been the hub of IM activity where recruits from UP, Karnataka and Maharashtra are trained by one of IM’s founder members, Talha. Cops believe that the module lay low after the Batla House encounter allowing the Darbhanga model to take centre stage. Out of the three, though, Rashid was not present in Delhi when the Batla encounter took place.
The special cell has questioned acquaintances of Shahnawaz and Baba Sajid in the city. The UP ATS along with the NIA and Maharashtra ATS have been working in tandem across six states to nab the accused.