Hyderabad blasts: IM bombs change over years but basics stay

The bombs used in the Hyderabad twin blasts bear an uncanny similarity to IEDs used in previous attacks by the Indian Mujahideen, including the use of ammonium nitrate, an alarm clock and an old bicycle.

With Pakistan trying to distance itself from Indian terrorists following the 2001 attack on Indian Parliament, the supply of RDX that could be traced back to the neighbouring country dried up as did active operational support of the Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami or Lashkar-e-Toiba. Need was felt to have a group of local operatives using IEDs made from sourced material at home — leading to the emergence of the Indian Mujahideen.

In its attacks since, the IM has established its own 'signature' — involving use of e-mails, ammonium nitrate and watches of brand Samay. The detonators are sourced from either Andhra Pradesh Explosive Limited or Rajasthan Explosive and Chemical Limited, establishing the India 'link'.

IEDs:

In February 2005, in the first known IM attack, IEDs were kept inside big milks cans and planted at a Varanasi ghat. One of the bombs exploded while the other did not. Atif Ameen would master the second bomb for the IM. Packed in a suitcase, it would be planted on the Patna-New Delhi Sharmjeevi Express at Varanasi in July 2005. Thirteen died in the attack. Ameen was killed in the 2008 Batla House encounter. The Delhi serial blasts of October 2005 followed. This time, the IM packed bombs in a pressure cooker and tiffin box and left them in crowded markets. All the bombs exploded, killing more than 60. The IM replicated the pressure cooker bombs in Varanasi in March 2006, targeting the Sankat Mochan temple, the railway station and a market nearby. One of them did not explode. In July 2006, seven similiar pressure cooker IEDs were planted on Mumbai local trains, killing more than 200. In 2007, the IM first used a bicycle, deploying it to carry out three blasts at Gorakhpur in May 2007. The IEDs used in the 2010 German bakery bomb in Pune were, however, kept in a bag.

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