Tourist spots were on Indian Mujahideen modules' target

One of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal, could have been the possible target of the four Indian Mujahideen terrorists, including its chief Tehseen Akhtar and Waqas, a Pakistan national handling IM's Mangalore and Munar modules, who were arrested recently.

Three terrorists Mohammed Mahruf (21), Mohammed Waqar Azhar (21) and Shaquib Ansari. arrested along with Waqas from Jodhpur and Jaipur, had done recce of Agra, Jaipur and Jodhpur and they had plans to targets the tourist spots of the these three regions.

Special cell with the help of Rajasthan ATS had recovered large quantities of explosives from their Jaipur and Jodhpur hideouts.

"Tourist places in Agra, Jaipur and Jodhpur were their main targets. I can't say whether Taj Mahal was in their mind but certainly they had tourist spots in their mind. Interrogation of Tehseen, Waqas and others shows that they wanted to strike the tourists especially the places where international tourists mainly go," said SN Srivastava , special commissioner, special cell, Delhi Police.

Srivastava also said that Tehseen Akhtar on the direction of Riyaz Bhatkal had told Waqas to train Mahruf and Waqarto in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

"Tehseen was in constant touch with Waqas and had told him to teach new recruits how to make IEDs. Waqas was a master IED maker and had received training for it in LeT camps in Pakistan," added Srivastava.

Police had seized a large quantity of explosives from their possession. Mahruf, one of three terrorists who is also an engineering student, had visited Agra. Police had recovered two detonators, 240 gram of silver-coloured explosives, 470 gram of magnesium sulphate and 400 gram of sodium chloride along with circuits, relays and other material needed to create explosives.