Three members of the banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) conducted a "test blast" on the city outskirts two days before carrying out the deadly February 21 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts here, according to a disclosure statement of one of the accused.
Asadullah Akhtar, an alleged close associate of IM's co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, and two others planted the bombs on the instructions of Pakistan-based Riyaz Bhatkal, according to the disclosure statement of Akhtar that was recently submitted to a local court by the NIA, which is investigating the twin blasts case.
Akhtar is being interrogated by the NIA after the court sent him to its custody for 15 days on September 19.
Seventeen people were killed and over 100 others injured in blasts triggered by powerful IEDs planted near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city, on February 21 this year.
After an initial probe by the Andhra Pradesh police, the NIA had taken over the case.
"As per the directions of Riyaz Bhatkal, myself and Waqas moved from Belgaum to Mangalore in September 2012. During our stay in Mangalore, I used to communicate with Riyaz through online chat. He informed me that in a few days, explosive material will be delivered to me in Mangalore and I have to carry out blasts in Hyderabad along with Waqas and Tahseen alias Monu," Akhtar said in the disclosure statement.
Giving details on his and the alleged role of other accused in the blasts, Akhtar allegedly told the NIA interrogators that as a part of the preparation, Riyaz had sent money through a money transfer firm and the hawala route in Mangalore.
"In the first week of February, 2013, I received the explosive material in Mangalore from an unknown person in a golden colour trolley bag sent by Riyaz," Akhtar said.
