New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency’s 7,500-page charge sheet in the Faridabad module case states that the group had set up an operational hub in Lucknow to oversee the procurement of chemicals for making explosives.
The members of the module led by Umar Un Nabi had identified locals in Lucknow to help with the procurement of chemicals and other materials to prepare explosives. The NIA said that the idea was to carry out a series of attacks, and the main targets were crowded locations and Hindu Temples.
Further, the NIA learnt during the probe that in Lucknow, the module members had identified targets to attack. The key targets included the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly, Secretariat and Raj Bhawan. These persons had even conducted a reconnaissance of these targets.
The probe suggested that the first round of blasts was to be carried out in Delhi and the neighbouring areas. Following this, they had planned to focus heavily on Uttar Pradesh, investigators had found.
The NIA said, “the group established a functional hub in Uttar Pradesh, not just to source bomb making material, but also to understand logistics and then carry out the attacks.”
The NIA learnt that this module, which mainly comprised medical professionals, used their skill test to study and understand the entire bomb making process. Using their scientific background, they acquired immense knowledge of chemical compositions, high-intensity detonations, and rocket propulsion, the NIA found.
The module wanted rapid execution, and they had identified every major chemical shop and dealer to procure the materials. The members of this module used YouTube extensively to learn how to process and refine the agricultural chemicals into military-grade explosive compositions. The group had managed to procure 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser for this purpose, the NIA found.
What has alarmed agencies is how the group managed to produce triacetone triperoxide (TATP), known as the ‘Mother of Satan’. An official said the choice of TATP was driven by its high destructive potential. Moreover, as a non‑nitrate explosive, TATP is extremely difficult to detect with standard nitrate scanners used at many security checkpoints.
Further, the module members, owing to their scientific background, had also learned how to manage the volatility of TATP. This component is extremely unstable and is very sensitive to heat and friction. These persons had made several visits to the safe house where these components were stocked. They decided to take such a high risk despite being aware of the volatility of these chemicals.
The module members, during the various visits, monitored the temperature and stability of the stockpile. They had even manufactured specialised cooling pitchers and added stabilising substances to manage the integrity of the chemicals, the NIA probe found.
The NIA also documented the various arsenal that this group had prepared. The doctors had tested launch heads which could be fired upwards during coordinated rocket strikes. They tried to manufacture Erythritol PETN and had procured used electrolysis and industrial nodes. This they had done to produce pipe bombs, the NIA learnt.
There were also plans to use domestic gas cylinders as heavy bombs. The idea was to drill holes and fill them with explosive slurry, the NIA probe found. An official said that this only suggests at what scale the Faridabad module had planned to operate at.
Looking at the kind of preparations and the amount of material they had sourced, it becomes clear that they had planned on striking far beyond Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the official added.
–IANS
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