IM's promise to cadres: Join us, book a place in heaven

The operatives of the Indian Mujahideen -- which carried out the Hyderabad twin blasts in which 17 people were killed on February 21 -- were told by their leaders that working for the terror outfit would guarantee a place for them in heaven.

This startling piece of information has been obtained from Maqbool, an alleged IM operative who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the twin blasts.

Maqbool has claimed that he did not play any role in the actual execution of the blast. He, along with fellow accused Imran, conducted a reconnaissance of the blast site in Hyderabad’s Dilsukhnagar.

His interrogation has provided the NIA an insight into the recruitment tactics of the IM. The terror outfit has only 20 or so members and it is looking for more foot soldiers to carry out similar terror strikes.

Not entirely satisfied with the couple of outlets it has in India, the IM wants to set up strong modules across the country, Maqbool told the NIA.

Imran, during interrogation, spoke about how dreaded terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba was recruiting operatives in Saudi Arabia.

The Lashkar has assured the IM that its operatives were available to carry out the latter’s terror strikes, he added.

Imran told the NIA that IM operatives like him were expected to coordinate with the handlers of the Lashkar to help make the foundation of the nascent terror organisation stronger.

While the IM is coordinating with the Lashkar in Saudi Arabia, it is also trying to tie up with the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami in Bangladesh.

IM cadres were in touch with HuJI operatives, including one called Majid, who had helped them carry out the Hyderabad terror strike. Majid, said Imran, made the travel arrangements of several IM operatives who had been sent to Bangladesh for arms training.

A NIA official points out that even though this information does not provide any leads into the Hyderabad blasts case, the agency is building up a case-sheet on the IM.

Learning details about the modus operandi of the outfit and its ideology is crucial to thwart the nefarious plans of the IM, believe NIA officials.

They point out that the terror outfit has already made a significant change in its recruitment plan. Earlier, it used to recruit young men by using money, but now it is appealing to their misguided ideology to induct them into radicalism.

This strategy had worked to an extent, say NIA officials, as there has been a rise in the number of youth who have volunteered to join the IM.