One thing became very clear at that time: Delhi may not immediately be the next target but it was considered priority. One, even with depleted resources and cadre, they could still target Delhi because they had the “capacity” to strike there. Two, the bomb-maker they knew as Tauqeer — his real name is Abdus Subhan Qureshi — was still at large and could assemble bombs as and when they wanted. Third, Delhi would provide them maximum publicity.

When Delhi Police asked what the Indian Mujahideen meant in its email after the Ahmedabad blasts that “the crusade would continue”, the accused apparently told interrogators that a plan was in place to target other cities which included Delhi. “For Delhi, they knew of at least two youths recruited from Uttar Pradesh for making the arrangements. But the names they gave didn’t mean anything and we knew they were using aliases, so it was difficult to identify them,” an officer associated with the investigation told The Indian Express.

A team of investigators of Hyderabad Police too returned from Ahmedabad with the same information. The names and faces “did not fit” and it was difficult to piece together the entire network.

“From what they were saying it was logically clear that Delhi was No.1 target. But so many persons are still large, it is difficult to determine where they are planning to strike next. With their main bomb manufacturer still to be arrested, he could be assembling them as and when required. With their network, planting the bombs is so easy,” said Ashish Bhatia, Ahmedabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch).

“It is difficult to piece together the entire plan and identify persons because they have cut-offs at every stage which means one group doesn’t know the real names of persons in other groups or what their role is. The Delhi blasts are similar to the others and it is amply clear from the material used in the Delhi bombs... the use of cycles and the modus operandi that those who prepared and planted them belong to the same large group that trained together and which is responsible for the blasts in Jaipur, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad,” said Bhatia. “It is possible that the persons who we are looking for could be involved in the Delhi blasts,” he said.

For Hyderabad police, Delhi is another similar case. “Cycle ball bearings, ammonium nitrate were used in the Delhi bombs, similar to the bombs at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat in Hyderabad. Obviously, the same group is involved. We will follow the Delhi investigations for some clues, see if they are linked to Hyderabad,” an official said.