Mumbai, Sept 13: In a major breakthrough in the August 25 Mumbai twin blast case, police shot dead Nasir, the mastermind behind the incident, along with a gangster in an encounter late last night. Acting on a tip-off that Nasir, wanted in connection with the blasts which killed 52 people, along with another gangster, would assemble near Ruparel college in suburban Matunga, police laid a trap. On seeing the duo, police asked them to surrender.
However, they fired at the police team, led by Prafulla Bhosle of Ghatkopar crime branch, which hit back by opening fire, police said.
The duo were taken to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead before admission, police said.
Joint Commissioner of Police Satyapal Singh said that the police recovered 92 gelatin sticks, eight detonators, two alarm clocks and two American revolvers from Nasir and his accomplice. He said the duo were planning to set off explosions. Nasir`s accomplice has not been identified.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said Nasir played a "very important role" in the twin blasts and police was searching for him for many days.
"It is a big achievement for Mumbai Police," he said.
Nasir was the alleged mastermind behind the blasts that occurred near the Zaveri Bazaar and Gateway of India on August 25 here. He had met co-accused Hanif in Dubai and brainwashed him to avenge killing of Muslims in Gujarat riots, police said adding, both of them came to India and conspired to engineer blasts in Mumbai.
It was Nasir who taught Hanif how to make bombs and continued to be with him till the eve of the blasts. However Nasir vanished on the day of explosions.
Hanif, his wife and daughter have been arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in connection with the twin blast. Bureau Report