Author: J. Dey
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 7, 2003
The inside story of the search for
the Mulund bombers - and the daunting task that lies ahead.
The blast
At 8.40pm on March 13,2003,a simple
but powerful bomb of fertiliser, sugar and potassium chlorate rips apart
a compartment on the 7.56 fast to Karjat at Mulund station. The huge blast
rips through a first-class ladiescompartment, killing 12 people.
The Celebration
Everyone wanted the credit in a
rare move, Deputy Chief Chhagan BhuJbal, Minister of State for Home Rajendra
Darda and Police Commissioner R S Sharma supervise a public display of
seized terrorist weapons: four AK-57 assault rifles, six pistols, two grenades
and a kilo of lethal potassium cyanide.
The nest
Police suspicion immediately falls
on the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Officers move
in on Borivali village In Thane district, a prosperous village of 7,000
with a flourishing timber trade - and a known hotbed, of militant activity.
The bust
Encircling the village, police use
undercover officers and Informants to track down blast suspects. By April
12, six terrorists with Lashkar-e-Tolba links were arrested. The cell had
plotted more attacks against major targets, Including 'the Mantralaya.
