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| Edited By: Sandip Dighe |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 21, 2013, 01:44 PM IST
Nearly seven months after the bomb blast that had ripped through Pune’s popular German Bakery (GB), killing 17 people and injuring 65, on February 13, 2010, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had cracked the case with the arrest of Mirza Himayat Baig.
During that time ATS chief Rakesh Maria had told in Mumbai that ‘Baig is the mastermind of the Pune bomb blast’.
Speaking to dna on Thursday after the court’s judgement, Maria feels that after giving ‘severe’ punishment in anti-national activities, youngsters who are falling prey to such acts would learn a lesson.
Q - What is your reaction to the verdict awarding capital punishment to Baig?
This is a historic decision. Our stand has been vindicated. ATS officers Vinod Satav, Dinesh Kadam and Milind Gaikwad have worked hard. They have taken painstaking efforts to collect evidence and produce eyewitnesses. Although the conspiracy was hatched on foreign land, our officers have produced enough evidence in the case.
Q - The court has awarded punishments for all charges slapped against Baig except for the charge of forgery. What do you think about it?
In any case, proving criminal conspiracy is the toughest job for prosecution. In this case, we have proved the conspiracy in the court. Ultimately, the court has awarded punishment in 15 sections which were slapped by us.
Do you think this verdict would give a ‘jolt’ to terrorist outfits?
I don’t think it would be a ‘jolt’ for them but it will definitely make them think twice before doing anything against the country.
Q - What message would today’s verdict give?
We can hope at least that those who are falling prey to such activities would think twice before involving in any anti-national activity. After today’s verdict, they would realise that if they get involved in any anti-national activity, they will be caught ultimately by the police and would have to face severe punishment.
Q - What was the unique feature of this case?
Himmayat Baig’s arrest by the ATS on September 7, 2010 in the German Bakery blast case exposed the link between the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Indian Mujahideen (IM) for the first time. Baig owed allegiance to the Fayyaz Kagzi group of the LeT. On the other hand, Yasin Bhatkal (co-accused in the blast case) belongs to the IM.
Q - How important was Baig’s role in the case?
Baig was instrumental in bringing LeT and IM together. In 2005, while he was studying in Pune he made friends with Mohsin Chaudhary and became friend of Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Yasin Bhatkal through him. Though Baig’s name did not crop up in the Aurangabad arms haul case, he fled from Beed to Pune and set-up a base in Pune.
After the Mumbai crime branch bust a Pune-based IM module in 2008, Baig fled to Udgir and set-up a cyber-cafe there. It was at this cyber cafe that Yasin Bhatkal came and met Baig before the German Bakery bomb blast. Baig was part of the conspiracy and even arranged for the explosive material that was used in the blast.
