They fled in the first week of December only after six IM operatives were arrested in connection with the case.
Intelligence agencies have confirmed that two Pakistani nationals bombed Mumbai on July 13, 2011, with help from Indian Mujahideen (IM). Not only did they execute the blasts at Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar, they also stayed in Mumbai between February and December 2011. They fled in the first week of December only after six IM operatives were arrested in connection with the case.
Intelligence Bureau and ATS officials have identified the two Pakistani bombers — Bakas and Tavrez — and detained one person who helped them rent a place in Byculla. “The detained person, Sultan Mirza, was in touch with IM operative Yasin Bhatkal who is believed to be the main conspirator of the 13/7 blasts,” the police said.
Bakas and Tavrez were brought to Mumbai by Bhatkal in February 2011. “Bhatkal himself came to Mumbai in February and with the help of Mirza, identified a place in Byculla for the bombers to stay. The place was taken on lease with Bhatkal paying a security deposit of Rs60,000 to Rubina, who owned the place,” said a Delhi-based senior central intelligence officer.
“The Pakistani bombers fled from Mumbai in the first week of December last year after the Delhi police arrested six IM members in November 2011,” the officer said, adding that Mirza was currently being questioned in connection with the case.
Investigations have revealed that Bhatkal introduced himself as Imran to the bombers and to Rubina. “After renting the place in Byculla, they started moving around the city to identify targets,” the officer said. The duo even joined a small gymnasium near Zaveri Bazaar (one of the terror targets) where they worked out regularly.
Rubina admitted that the duo had rented her place, but told investigators that they left in the first week of December 2011 without informing her. The police are investigating why Bakas and Tavrez continued to stay in Mumbai and did not flee immediately after the blasts.
“They panicked only after the special cell of the Delhi police arrested six IM members in the case. It is possible that Bhatkal must have ordered them to flee after his name cropped up in the investigations,” the officer said.
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