Death was to come on bikes, cars: Cops

The Students Islamic Movement of India, which is alleged to have carried out attacks at Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi through its frontal outfit -- the Indian Mujahideen, had initially planned on triggering bombs in bikes and cars.

However, according to investigation officers, the plan had to be aborted following the crackdown on SIMI activists in Karnataka. The task of stealing cars and motorcycles was entrusted with Riazuddin Nasir, son of Moulana Nasiruddin who is an accused in the Haren Pandya murder case.

Investigations following the visit of the Delhi team to Karnataka along with Mohammad Saif have revealed that SIMI members had allegedly stolen vehicles in northern Karnataka and also in Suratkal, a small town 40 kilometres away from Mangalore in coastal Karnataka.

Saif, who was pursuing a career in an institute at Manipal through correspondence, had frequented Suratkal and on a couple of occasions met Nasir.

According to investigating agencies in Karnataka, some motorcycles were stolen from Suratkal too and intended to be transported to various parts of the country.

The plan was to place the bombs on these motorcycles.

Both Nasir and Saif targeted Suratkal and Manipal owing to the large student population in these places. Both Manipal and Suratkal have a host of educational institutes and the floating population of students is high in these places.

Investigations reveal that the duo had tried to brainwash several students into joining the outfit.

Police sources say that both Saif and Nasir had planned on transporting the stolen vehicles fitted with bombs into cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi. The initial plan was to detonate the bombs by using a remote device, but they had to change their plan following the arrest of Nasir.

It is further revealed that plans to carry out attacks in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai were planned way back in 2007 at a meeting in Hubli. However, the operatives were directed to put their plans on hold following the spate of arrests that took place in the country at the turn of 2008.

First it was a major crackdown at Karnataka and then it was the arrest of the key SIMI activists, including Safdar Nagori at Indore.