Date:15/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/15/stories/2005111513730100.htm

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`Militants had identified eight targets'

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Tariq Ahmed Dar, the alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) conduit arrested from Srinagar on charges of his involvement in the Delhi serial blasts, has purportedly disclosed that the four militants who triggered the explosions had planned to carry out more attacks in the Capital.

Tariq allegedly told the interrogators that the militants had identified at least eight targets in the city, including crowded market places and the Metro rail. While they triggered the blasts in Paharganj main bazaar, Sarojini Nagar market and inside a Delhi Transport Corporation bus at Govindpuri in South Delhi on October 29, they apparently went underground when the police turned on the heat.

The police have learnt that Tariq was in direct contact with a top LeT leader based in Pakistan and was in regular touch with him through a satellite phone. He also informed his handler about the "successful" execution of the operation in the Capital by the four LeT militants.

While his interrogation is on, the police on Monday remained tight-lipped about the reported detention and questioning of another suspect in the serial blast case. "Our probe has already suffered due to revelations of certain vital details in the media," said a police officer.

It is learnt that several teams of the Special Cell have been conducting raids to trace the militants who carried out the explosions.

According to the police, seven LeT men, including the Pakistani LeT commanders, Abu Al Kama and Abu Huzefa, were involved in the conspiracy behind the Delhi blasts.