According to him, the young boy was a part of the “module” and knew how to make bombs. Police believe that after planting bombs in Ahmedabad on July 26, all returned to Delhi the next day by train. Officials also say that on the return trip, two of the men who stole cars from Mumbai for the Ahmedabad blasts accompanied them.

The conspiracy for the Delhi blasts is believed to have been hatched in Jamia Nagar in Delhi — where the encounter took place on Friday — in Tauqeer’s presence, in the first week of August. Abu Bashar and Tauqeer may have stayed back in Delhi while the “module” went to Ahmedabad.

“Tauqeer is the main leader who played an important role in all the blasts,” confirmed Alok Kumar, DCP, Special Cell. Delhi Police officials added that there is no dossier on Atif as he had never been arrested. “He was a student and belonged to Azamgarh. Most of the members of this module also belong to Azamgarh. They had been staying here in the Jamia area on rent for around two and a half months.”

Three others, Bashar, Abu Zar and Danish, seem to have stayed in the Jamia Nagar flat in July 2 for three days.

According to Delhi Police officials who questioned Bashar, he didn’t have much information on Atif, having talked to him only on the phone, but knew there was a hideout in the Jamia area.

The other members of this “module” are believed to be all members of the Indian Mujahideen who pretended to be students.