NIA announces reward for Mumbai triple blasts suspect

National Investigation Agency (NIA) today announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh on information leading to arrest of Waqas, a Pakistani national, who is alleged to have planted bombs in the 2011 triple blasts in Mumbai.
During the interrogation of Yasin Bhatkal, alleged to be the mastermind of several terror attacks in the country including the triple blasts in Mumbai on July 13, 2011, security agencies were told that Waqas was roaming in India and was planning to strike again, official sources said today.
As many as 27 people were killed when three separate blasts took place at Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar.

The NIA, which is interrogating Bhatkal, immediately issued an alert and also announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh to an information leading to his arrest.
The last known residing address of 24-year-old Waqas was in Mangalore in Karnataka and NIA has given details about his appearance.
Waqas alias Ahmed alias Javed poses himself as student to get accommodation on rent and speaks in Urdu and Hindi with strong Punjabi accent, NIA said and also described that he generally wears half shirt, pant and sports shoes and walks with a slight bent.

The NIA in its announcement said wAQAS was computer savvy and extensively visited cyber cafes.

He is believed to have fled from the last location in Mangalore only after news of Bhatkal's arrest appeared in the newspapers.
During the interrogation, Bhatkal is reported to have told interrogators about Waqas' presence in the area where he was planning to carry out a fresh wave of terror acts and the place that was being used to make bombs.
During recent raids, security agencies recovered 100 watches that could have been potential timers for explosive devices being manufactured allegedly by Waqas and other members of banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen(IM).