Another bug bomb blast by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba is imminent in one of the major cities. Last time there were no riots when bomb blasts ocurred in Banaras. Not sure whether there would be riots if another attack takes place. The Mumbai cell of terrorists have planned to instigate attacks in Mumbai and the Ajanta and Ellora caves in the state of Maharashtra – two important sites to Jains, Buddhists and Hindus.
These terrorists are dividing the Indians on the basis of religion.
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India: Attacks Averted – at Least Temporarily
May 10, 2006 19 58 GMT
Summary
In the latest of a series of raids against the militant Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Indian security forces detained another three LeT affiliates in Mumbai on May 9. Indian security forces disrupted another LeT cell May 8, killing Abu Hamza, the leader of an LeT breakaway group. India has taken advantage of the militant group’s poor operational security to avert several potentially major jihadist strikes in large Indian cities – but New Delhi is not out of the danger zone yet.
Analysis
Acting on a tip, New Delhi police arrested two jihadists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in New Delhi on May 8, uncovering plans to bomb several major sites throughout India. These arrests led to a shoot-out with, and further arrests of, other LeT elements.
Though these raids mark a major victory for India in its battle with Islamist militants, more attacks are likely in store.
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LeT’s bomb plot began to unravel May 8, when New Delhi police arrested two men on a tip, Feroze Abdul Latif Ghaswala and Mohammed Ali Chippa, both Indians who had received jihadist training in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The men were captured with nine pounds of the explosive RDX and $1,000 in cash on them as they arrived in New Delhi at the Nizamuddin train station. They revealed that they were to meet an accomplice, Pakistani national Mohammed Iqbal, aka Abu Hamza (not to be confused with the jailed founder of the London-based militant Islamist group Ansar al-Shariah, Abu Hamza al-Masri.) The makeup of this cell fits the typical pattern of Islamist militants in India, where most cells are composed of Pakistani and Bangladeshi handlers, financiers, trainers and bomb-makers who recruit from disgruntled local youths and enjoy the support of a local network.
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Two hours after capturing the two men, New Delhi police found Hamza and engaged in a shoot-out with him outside of the city’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, killing him. After going through his Hyundai, police discovered the addresses of safe-houses and of another LeT cell south of Mumbai. This led to a raid in Mumbai on May 9, which resulted in three more arrests of LeT suspects.
The plot was potentially quite lethal. The second cell possessed 10 computer server cabinets, each containing an AK-47, ammunition, and seven pounds of RDX. These kits were likely meant to be shipped to jihadists throughout the country. The New Delhi cell was also well-armed: Its safe-house near the border between the Union Territory of Delhi and the state of Haryana contained two AK-56 rifles, ammunition, 10 hand grenades, 11 pounds of the explosive PETN and other bomb-making materials. The explosives could have been divided into smaller units for use in suicide vests or combined for a larger punch.
The New Delhi cell was apparently planning several attacks on targets that included the port of Kandla and a railway bridge in Ahmedabad, both in the state of Gujarat, and a meeting of Bollywood film producers in Mumbai; attacks were also planned in New Delhi. In addition to planning to ship kits across country, the Mumbai cell may have planned to instigate attacks in Mumbai and the Ajanta and Ellora caves in the state of Maharashtra – two important sites to Jains, Buddhists and Hindus.
Obviously, the attacks had the potential to inflict widespread damage. But though the attacks have been averted for the time being, India is likely faces more plots. Osama bin Laden’s recent video message specifically mentioned India as an al Qaeda target for the first time. While this will no doubt incite action by militants in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, there is also the possibility that al Qaeda may be pressuring Kashmiri jihadist groups to strike elsewhere in India. A large attack in India would have the effect of giving bin Laden’s message greater global relevance.
No doubt New Delhi has dodged a bullet with its recent anti-terror successes. Even so, the enemy still has plenty of ammunition