New Delhi: The Delhi Police told a court here Thursday that 2010 Jama Masjid attack case was carried out to dissuade foreign nations from participating in Commonwealth Games.
Delhi Police said that the blast was done to portray the image of India, the host for the 2010 CWG, as a “weak and disturbed nation”.
The police statement came in its chargesheet filed against Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in the September 2010 Jama Masjid attack case.
According to police, Yasin Bhatkal had prepared and planted a pressure cooker IED in a car which was parked near the gate number three of Jama Masjid.
On Sept 19, 2010, two suspected IM operatives had fired at a bus from which foreign tourists were descending near the mosque, leaving two Taiwanese tourists injured. There was a mild explosion in the bomb fitted in the car, police said.
Police said that the terror strike was carried out by the IM operatives on the instructions of their Pakistan-based leaders Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal, who are both absconding.
The charge sheet further said that these accused had planned that foreign tourists found near Jama Masjid would be “randomly shot” and a bomb blast would be executed in the area for maximum casualties.
Delhi Police Thursday filed the fresh sets of charges against Bhatkal and his associates before Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash.
The accused have been chargesheeted under various offences dealing with Explosive Substances Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology Act.
The court has fixed May 22 as next date of hearing.
According to chargesheet, after the terror strike at the historic mosque here on Sep 19, 2010, the members of IM had sent e-mails to the media claiming responsibility for the attack.