2010 Pune bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Pune bombing occurred on 13 February 2010 at approximately 7:15 pm IST
when a bomb exploded at the German Bakery in the city of Pune
, Maharashtra
, India
. The blast killed seventeen people, and injured at least 60 more. including an Italian woman, two Sudanese students and an Iran
ian student
The German Bakery is located near the Jewish Chabad House
and the Osho
ashram
(an international meditation resort) in Koregaon Park
, Pune. The ashram and the bakery are frequented by foreigners and the bakery, which is popular with tourists and locals alike, was busy at the time of the blast.
Two little known groups calling themselves the Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami and the Mujahideen Islami Muslim Front claimed they were behind the bomb attack. However, according to government agencies, the attack could have been part of a project by Lashkar-e-Taiba
to use the Indian Mujahideen
, called the 'Karachi project'. David Coleman Headley a Pakistani-American
terror suspect has been accused of involvement in the project.
in the vicinity of the German Bakery, but the Bakery was not deemed to be at risk at the time.
Initial media reports indicated that a Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder used for cooking had caused the blast, but the Pune City Fire Brigade
issued a statement that the cylinders at German bakery were intact. Security agencies confirmed shortly thereafter that the explosion was a terrorist strike.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan
, announced, "Regarding the compensation payment to the dead, the families will be paid Rs.
500,000 (US$ 11,000) per person who has died in the unfortunate incident. And whatever the medical expenditure is for the people who have been admitted in the hospitals will be entirely borne by the government".
About sixty people were injured in the bombing. Forty-six were men and the rest were women. Twelve of the injured were foreigners: five were Iranian, two were Sudanese and two were Nepalese, and one each from Italy, Taiwan, and Yemen.
List of victims:
explosive had been used. Ball bearings and nutbolts were part of the bomb. He added, "According to the FSL report received last night, the material used for the explosive was a combination of RDX
, Ammonium Nitrate and Petroleum
hydrocarbon oil (ANFO
). However, the quantity used has not been determined yet. Also the trigger mechanism is being investigated yet." It is not known whether a remote detonator or a timer was used to carry out the blast.
P. Chidambaram
stated that responsibility for the blast had not yet been determined, but that Indian authorities were making attempts to interview David Headley
, a Pakistani-American businessman, accused of involvement with terrorism and currently undergoing trial in the United States. In connection with the bomb blast, the Indian Home Secretary, G. K. Pillai
also referred to Headley. News organizations have reported that Headley had visited Pune in July 2008 and March 2009 to scout
the area near the blast and described him as a suspected member of Lashkar-e-Taiba
, one of the largest and most active South Asia
n Islamist terrorist organisations. G. K. Pillai also said that the attack could be part of a project by Lashkar-e-Taiba to use the Indian Mujahideen
in what Headley apparently called the 'Karachi project' during his interrogation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI).
The attack occurred just a few days after an agreement was reached between India and Pakistan to resume dialogue at a meeting on 25 February in New Delhi. The incident added to the government’s vulnerability, with the opposition asking for suspension of the bilateral talks.
A little known group calling itself the Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami claimed it was behind the bomb attack in Pune in a phone call to the Islamabad office of the Indian daily The Hindu
. The caller appeared to be educated, and said the group had split from the Lashkar-e-Taiba
due to its affinity to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence
. The call appeared to originate from the Miramshah or Bannu district in North Waziristan
.
team was sent from New Delhi
to Pune
to assist in the investigations. Consequently the entire country was put on high alert, especially Mumbai
and Hyderabad. After a detailed review of the internal security situation in the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
directed the Union and Maharashtra governments to take coordinated and effective action to speedily investigate the terror attack.
Investigation in the blast is being done by Maharashtra government's Anti Terrorist Squad along with the National Investigation Agency
in Delhi. Maharashtra ATS Chief K P Raghuvanshi is heading the blast probe. The agency has got crucial closed-circuit television camera
(CCTV) footage of the alleged bombers.
Investigators first focused their attention on the prospect that the attacks were carried out by a Pune jihad cell known to have existed since at least 2006. This came out from the questioning of Mohammad Peerbhoy, an Indian Mujahideen operative held in the course of a national counter-terrorism operation that targeted the Lashkar-linked group in 2008.
Just moments before the explosion, Paras Rimal, a waiter at the German Bakery had noticed the bag (containing explosives). When Paras moved in to investigate the bag, he was called outside the bakery by an unknown motorist who paid him to fetch a glass of water. Since Paras was away from the blast he sustained mild injuries and has become an important eyewitness for the police.
Investigators are also including other Indian metropolitan cities like Bangalore
and Mumbai
in the probe. Popular destinations where foreigners are often seen are being searched. Similarly people who checked in or out of hotels in the surrounding areas are also being tracked down. Over 40 people have been arrested during the investigation. Among them are four Kashmiris arrested in Hampi
, Karnataka
. Pune police arrested two suspects from Pune's suburbs on 16 February 2010. Another two were detained in Aurangabad.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) identified Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, as one of the main conspirators of the blast in a preliminary report submitted to the State Government on 7 April 2010. The investigating agency, in its report, has identified four more suspects involved in the blast, including the planters of the bomb — laden bag which went off in the German Bakery. Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil told the Legislative Council that the suspects would be arrested in a few days and more details would be disclosed at a later stage.
On May 24, 2010, Maharashtra ATS arrested Abdul Samad Bhatkal, younger brother of Yaseen Bhatkal, as he got off Air India flight 812 at Mangalore International Airport
for his alleged involvement in a little-known murder case. However, Home Minister P. Chidambaram
later identified him as the prime suspect in the German Bakery blast. Bhatkal had left for Dubai shortly after the blast and was returning after his visa expired. He was arrested using a Lookout Notice that was issued by the Mumbai police. Samad was trying to slip into the country through the Bajpe Airport by taking advantage of the situation that prevailed following the 22 May 2010 crash at Mangalore of flight Air India Express Flight 812
. Bhatkal was apprehended based on investigation of CCTV footage from the German Bakery.
In September 2010, the ATS arrested Mirza Himayat Baig (29) for his involvement in the attack, as well as his aide Shaikh Lalbaba Mohammed Hussain alias Bilal (27), both believed to be members of Islamist militant terrorist organization LeT
. Baig was said to have taken bomb-making training in Colombo
in 2008.
On 30th November, 2011, the Delhi Police arrested six suspected Indian Mujahideen
operatives whom they claimed to be the perpetrators of the 2010 Pune bombing
, the Chinnaswamy stadium blast and the 2010 Jama Masjid attack
. One Pakistani
national was also reported to have been arrested. Two of the seven people were arrested in Chennai
and were identified by the Delhi Police as Mohammad Irshad Khan (age 50) and Abdul Rahman (age 19), hailing from Madhubani
district of Bihar
. Another individual - Ghayur Jamil - a student at a madarsa in Darbhanga
was also arrested from Madhubani
on the charge of recruiting youths from near the Indo-Nepal border for terrorist activities, Abdul Rahman being one of such recruits. This charge was disputed by Jamil's father who billed him as a good orator and an honest, religious man who had lost a bag containing his belongings - including his PAN card, residential proof and photos - a few days back.
condemned the Pune bombing. "On behalf of the people of the United States, I extend heartfelt sympathy to the Government of India and the victims of this tragic terrorist blast in Pune. The US remains shoulder-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terror and will assist as needed to help bring the perpetrators of this cowardly act to justice." President Barack Obama
condemned the blast that took place in Pune and expressed his condolences on the loss of life in a phone call to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Indian Standard Time
Indian Standard Time is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a time offset of UTC+05:30. India does not observe daylight saving time or other seasonal adjustments, although DST was used briefly during the Sino–Indian War of 1962 and the Indo–Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971...
when a bomb exploded at the German Bakery in the city of Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The blast killed seventeen people, and injured at least 60 more. including an Italian woman, two Sudanese students and an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian student
The German Bakery is located near the Jewish Chabad House
Chabad house
A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating Orthodox Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad Houses are run by the local Shaliach , who was sent to that place by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who founded all Chabad Houses...
and the Osho
Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)
Osho , born Chandra Mohan Jain , and also known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s onwards, as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s and as Osho from 1989, was an Indian mystic, guru, and spiritual teacher who garnered an international following.A professor of philosophy, he travelled...
ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
(an international meditation resort) in Koregaon Park
Koregaon Park
Koregaon Park is an area in Pune south to Mula-Mutha River. The area is often viewed as the most posh place in the city of Pune. This area was primarily a residential area with lush green scenery but of late has been growing into a commercial market place in Pune city...
, Pune. The ashram and the bakery are frequented by foreigners and the bakery, which is popular with tourists and locals alike, was busy at the time of the blast.
Two little known groups calling themselves the Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami and the Mujahideen Islami Muslim Front claimed they were behind the bomb attack. However, according to government agencies, the attack could have been part of a project by Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
to use the Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group based in India, known for carrying out several attacks against civilian targets in India....
, called the 'Karachi project'. David Coleman Headley a Pakistani-American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
terror suspect has been accused of involvement in the project.
Location and time
The site of the bombing was the German Bakery, a two-decade-old popular establishment in Pune. The bakery, situated on the ground floor of a corner building in the Koregaon Park area of Pune, was reduced to rubble, though the rest of the building was left intact. At the time of the explosion, the bakery's limited seating areas were full of students and foreign visitors from the nearby Osho Ashram. A security alert had been issued in October 2009 for a Jewish Chabad houseChabad house
A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating Orthodox Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad Houses are run by the local Shaliach , who was sent to that place by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who founded all Chabad Houses...
in the vicinity of the German Bakery, but the Bakery was not deemed to be at risk at the time.
Initial media reports indicated that a Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder used for cooking had caused the blast, but the Pune City Fire Brigade
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
issued a statement that the cylinders at German bakery were intact. Security agencies confirmed shortly thereafter that the explosion was a terrorist strike.
Victims
Nine people were killed instantly. The rest of the victims succumbed to their injuries few days later, while undergoing treatment.The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan
Ashok Chavan
Ashok Shankarrao Chavan was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chavan was sworn in on 8 December 2008, after his political party, the Indian National Congress and Vilasrao Deshmukh selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh's successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural...
, announced, "Regarding the compensation payment to the dead, the families will be paid Rs.
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
500,000 (US$ 11,000) per person who has died in the unfortunate incident. And whatever the medical expenditure is for the people who have been admitted in the hospitals will be entirely borne by the government".
About sixty people were injured in the bombing. Forty-six were men and the rest were women. Twelve of the injured were foreigners: five were Iranian, two were Sudanese and two were Nepalese, and one each from Italy, Taiwan, and Yemen.
List of victims:
| Name | Age | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Saied Abdulkhani | 26 | Iran |
| Rajeev Agarwal | 23 | India |
| Suleiman Alfatah | 21 | Sudan |
| Atul Ganpat Anap | 26 | India |
| Anandi Dhar | 19 | India |
| Ankik Dhar | 24 | India |
| Vinita Gadani | 22 | India |
| Shilpa Goenka | 23 | India |
| Aditi Jindal | 23 | India |
| Nadia Macerini | 37 | Italy |
| Aditya Jaiprakash Mehta | 24 | India |
| Gokul Nepali | 30 | Nepal |
| Shankar Pansare | 27 | India |
| Abhishek Saxena | 24 | India |
| P. Sindhuri | 22 | India |
| Anaj Sulaiman | 21 | Sudan |
| Vikas Tulsiani | 24 | India |
Equipment
Commissioner of Police, Satyapal Singh, after receiving the preliminary report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), stated that RDXRDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
explosive had been used. Ball bearings and nutbolts were part of the bomb. He added, "According to the FSL report received last night, the material used for the explosive was a combination of RDX
RDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
, Ammonium Nitrate and Petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
hydrocarbon oil (ANFO
ANFO
ANFO is a widely used bulk industrial explosive mixture. It consists of 94 percent porous prilled ammonium nitrate , that acts as the oxidizing agent and absorbent for the fuel — six percent Number 2 Fuel Oil...
). However, the quantity used has not been determined yet. Also the trigger mechanism is being investigated yet." It is not known whether a remote detonator or a timer was used to carry out the blast.
Initial hypotheses about the perpetrators and motives
On 14 February, the Indian Home MinisterMinister for Home Affairs (India)
The Home Minister, or more properly the Minister for Home Affairs, is a position in the Indian Cabinet, at both State and Union levels. The Home Ministry is one of the most important, powerful and high profile ministry after the Prime Minister...
P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram or Chidambaram Palaniappan, sometimes written Palaniappan Chidambaram is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and present Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008...
stated that responsibility for the blast had not yet been determined, but that Indian authorities were making attempts to interview David Headley
David Headley
David Coleman Headley, formerly known as Daood Sayed Gilani, is a Chicago-based Pakistani American,who conspired with Lashkar-e-Taibaand, he claims, Pakistani military officers...
, a Pakistani-American businessman, accused of involvement with terrorism and currently undergoing trial in the United States. In connection with the bomb blast, the Indian Home Secretary, G. K. Pillai
Gopal Krishna Pillai
Gopal Krishna Pillai or G. K. Pillai is an Indian Administrative Service officer and the former Home Secretary of India. He belongs to the Kerala cadre of the 1972 batch of I.A.S...
also referred to Headley. News organizations have reported that Headley had visited Pune in July 2008 and March 2009 to scout
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
the area near the blast and described him as a suspected member of Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
, one of the largest and most active South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n Islamist terrorist organisations. G. K. Pillai also said that the attack could be part of a project by Lashkar-e-Taiba to use the Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group based in India, known for carrying out several attacks against civilian targets in India....
in what Headley apparently called the 'Karachi project' during his interrogation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI).
The attack occurred just a few days after an agreement was reached between India and Pakistan to resume dialogue at a meeting on 25 February in New Delhi. The incident added to the government’s vulnerability, with the opposition asking for suspension of the bilateral talks.
A little known group calling itself the Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami claimed it was behind the bomb attack in Pune in a phone call to the Islamabad office of the Indian daily The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
. The caller appeared to be educated, and said the group had split from the Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
due to its affinity to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
. The call appeared to originate from the Miramshah or Bannu district in North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
.
Investigation
The Maharashtra police had announced a probe was under way to establish the cause of the explosion, while a Central Bureau of InvestigationCentral Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
team was sent from New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
to Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
to assist in the investigations. Consequently the entire country was put on high alert, especially Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and Hyderabad. After a detailed review of the internal security situation in the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
directed the Union and Maharashtra governments to take coordinated and effective action to speedily investigate the terror attack.
Investigation in the blast is being done by Maharashtra government's Anti Terrorist Squad along with the National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
in Delhi. Maharashtra ATS Chief K P Raghuvanshi is heading the blast probe. The agency has got crucial closed-circuit television camera
Closed-circuit television camera
Closed-circuit television cameras can produce images or recordings for surveillance purposes, and can be either video cameras, or digital stills cameras...
(CCTV) footage of the alleged bombers.
Investigators first focused their attention on the prospect that the attacks were carried out by a Pune jihad cell known to have existed since at least 2006. This came out from the questioning of Mohammad Peerbhoy, an Indian Mujahideen operative held in the course of a national counter-terrorism operation that targeted the Lashkar-linked group in 2008.
Just moments before the explosion, Paras Rimal, a waiter at the German Bakery had noticed the bag (containing explosives). When Paras moved in to investigate the bag, he was called outside the bakery by an unknown motorist who paid him to fetch a glass of water. Since Paras was away from the blast he sustained mild injuries and has become an important eyewitness for the police.
Investigators are also including other Indian metropolitan cities like Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in the probe. Popular destinations where foreigners are often seen are being searched. Similarly people who checked in or out of hotels in the surrounding areas are also being tracked down. Over 40 people have been arrested during the investigation. Among them are four Kashmiris arrested in Hampi
Hampi
Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka state, India. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Pune police arrested two suspects from Pune's suburbs on 16 February 2010. Another two were detained in Aurangabad.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) identified Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, as one of the main conspirators of the blast in a preliminary report submitted to the State Government on 7 April 2010. The investigating agency, in its report, has identified four more suspects involved in the blast, including the planters of the bomb — laden bag which went off in the German Bakery. Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil told the Legislative Council that the suspects would be arrested in a few days and more details would be disclosed at a later stage.
On May 24, 2010, Maharashtra ATS arrested Abdul Samad Bhatkal, younger brother of Yaseen Bhatkal, as he got off Air India flight 812 at Mangalore International Airport
Mangalore International Airport
Mangalore Airport, formerly known as Bajpe Airport, is a domestic and customs airport serving the coastal city of Mangalore, India...
for his alleged involvement in a little-known murder case. However, Home Minister P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram or Chidambaram Palaniappan, sometimes written Palaniappan Chidambaram is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and present Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008...
later identified him as the prime suspect in the German Bakery blast. Bhatkal had left for Dubai shortly after the blast and was returning after his visa expired. He was arrested using a Lookout Notice that was issued by the Mumbai police. Samad was trying to slip into the country through the Bajpe Airport by taking advantage of the situation that prevailed following the 22 May 2010 crash at Mangalore of flight Air India Express Flight 812
Air India Express Flight 812
Air India Express Flight 812 was a scheduled passenger service from Dubai to Mangalore which at around 01:00 UTC on 22 May 2010, overshot the runway on landing, fell over a cliff and caught fire, spreading wreckage across the surrounding hillside...
. Bhatkal was apprehended based on investigation of CCTV footage from the German Bakery.
In September 2010, the ATS arrested Mirza Himayat Baig (29) for his involvement in the attack, as well as his aide Shaikh Lalbaba Mohammed Hussain alias Bilal (27), both believed to be members of Islamist militant terrorist organization LeT
Let
Let or LET may refer to:* -let, an English diminutive suffix* Let, a shot or point that must be replayed in certain racquet sports* Let, a name binding construct in computer programming languages...
. Baig was said to have taken bomb-making training in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 2008.
On 30th November, 2011, the Delhi Police arrested six suspected Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group based in India, known for carrying out several attacks against civilian targets in India....
operatives whom they claimed to be the perpetrators of the 2010 Pune bombing
2010 Pune bombing
The 2010 Pune bombing occurred on 13 February 2010 at approximately 7:15 pm ISTwhen a bomb exploded at the German Bakery in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. The blast killed seventeen people, and injured at least 60 more...
, the Chinnaswamy stadium blast and the 2010 Jama Masjid attack
2010 Jama Masjid attack
The 2010 Jama Masjid attack occurred on September 19, 2010 when two gunmen on a motorcycle fired at a tourist bus near Gate 3 of the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, India and injured two Taiwanese tourists. The incident provoked fears about security for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi...
. One Pakistani
Pakistani
Pakistani may refer to:Person associated with Pakistan* Demographics of Pakistan* List of PakistanisPakistani as a language:* Urdu, national language of Pakistan* Languages of PakistanOther:* Pakistani cuisine- See also :...
national was also reported to have been arrested. Two of the seven people were arrested in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and were identified by the Delhi Police as Mohammad Irshad Khan (age 50) and Abdul Rahman (age 19), hailing from Madhubani
Madhubani
Madhubani is a town and a municipality in Madhubani district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the district headquarters. It lies 26 km northeast of Darbhanga town and was part of the erstwhile 'Bettiah Raj'. Internal disputes and family quarrels divided the Bettiah Raj in course of time....
district of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Another individual - Ghayur Jamil - a student at a madarsa in Darbhanga
Darbhanga
Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the...
was also arrested from Madhubani
Madhubani
Madhubani is a town and a municipality in Madhubani district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the district headquarters. It lies 26 km northeast of Darbhanga town and was part of the erstwhile 'Bettiah Raj'. Internal disputes and family quarrels divided the Bettiah Raj in course of time....
on the charge of recruiting youths from near the Indo-Nepal border for terrorist activities, Abdul Rahman being one of such recruits. This charge was disputed by Jamil's father who billed him as a good orator and an honest, religious man who had lost a bag containing his belongings - including his PAN card, residential proof and photos - a few days back.
Domestic reactions
- Prime MinisterPrime Minister of IndiaThe Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
Manmohan SinghManmohan SinghManmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
who discussed the situation with Home Minister P. ChidambaramP. ChidambaramP. Chidambaram or Chidambaram Palaniappan, sometimes written Palaniappan Chidambaram is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and present Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008...
, directed speedy investigation so that “the culprits responsible for this heinous act are identified and brought to justice at the earliest,’’ - Bharatiya Janata PartyBharatiya Janata PartyThe Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
President Nitin GadkariNitin GadkariNitin Gadkari ;is a senior Indian politician and the current President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is best known for the works during his tenure as a Public Works Department Minister in the state of Maharashta when he constructed a series of roads, highways and flyovers across the state...
described the Pune blast as an “unfortunate incident.” In a statement, opposition leader Arun JaitleyArun JaitleyArun Jaitley is a prominent Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party , which is currently the largest Opposition party in India...
said: “The BJP urges the government to reconsider both these steps: allowing persons from Pakistan-administered KashmirPakistan-administered KashmirAzad Kashmir borders the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan to the north west, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of People's Republic of China to the north and the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, to the east.A...
to return and resuming the dialogue with Pakistan. Terror and talks cannot coexist.” - The Communist Party of India (Marxist)Communist Party of India (Marxist)The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
condemned the Pune blast and asked the Union government to provide all help to Maharashtra to bring the guilty to book. - KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
chief minister V S Achuthanandan said "Terrorist strikes being reported from different parts of the country are matters of grave concern," adding that the threat should be viewed seriously and stern measures must be taken to tackle the menace.
International reactions
– Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the blast and indicated that the Pakistani government still wants the peace talks to go ahead. – In a statement, the British High Commission condemned the Pune attack and expressed the U.K.’s solidarity with India. “We condemn the cowardly attack on innocent people in Pune. The U.K. expresses its wholehearted solidarity with India. Our sympathies and condolences are with the families of all those affected in this incident,” it said. – Ambassador Timothy J. RoemerTimothy J. Roemer
Timothy John "Tim" Roemer is an American political figure, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of India...
condemned the Pune bombing. "On behalf of the people of the United States, I extend heartfelt sympathy to the Government of India and the victims of this tragic terrorist blast in Pune. The US remains shoulder-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terror and will assist as needed to help bring the perpetrators of this cowardly act to justice." President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
condemned the blast that took place in Pune and expressed his condolences on the loss of life in a phone call to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
See also
- List of terrorist incidents, 2010
- Terrorism in IndiaTerrorism in IndiaTerrorism in India is primarily attributable to religious communities and Naxalite radical movements.The regions with long term terrorist activities today are Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai, Central India and the Seven Sister States...
- 2008 Mumbai attacks2008 Mumbai attacksThe 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
- David HeadleyDavid HeadleyDavid Coleman Headley, formerly known as Daood Sayed Gilani, is a Chicago-based Pakistani American,who conspired with Lashkar-e-Taibaand, he claims, Pakistani military officers...