IM kept intensity of blasts low deliberately, say cops

It has often been asked as to why groups such as the Indian Mujahideen have been resorting to lower intensity blasts over the past couple of years. The group is existent, but the gusto appears to be missing, says Vicky Nanjappa

Police officials in Bengaluru and the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad say that this is an intentional ploy on their part aimed at not angering the majority community in India.

One had wondered whether the IM looking for resurrection was down and out. While this is largely the case there is also the issue which the IM faces and that is they do not want to be forgotten. Police officials in both states say that the IM operatives did realise that there was a lot of counter reacting that took place after a series of attacks carried out by them.

The IM has always wanted to ensure that they act as heroes of the Muslim community. However, after the first spate of blasts which claimed nearly 150 lives, they realised that the majority of the community was extremely angered.

The additional worry was also some fanatics in the majority community trying to target the minorities in retaliation to IM's actions.

The IM faced a problem after a spate of arrests weakened their top leadership. They were forced to go into hiding. The IM was desperate to make its presence felt and hence started to regroup in small numbers and plan a series of attacks.

However, according to Bengaluru police, under questioning, some of the operatives revealed that it was an intentional act to keep the intensity of the blasts low.

The IM felt that on one hand it was necessary to remain in circulation, and on the other it was also necessary to ensure that the casualties were kept at a minimum, and the the intention would be more to scare than to destroy.

Police officials say that it is not as though the IM lacks the expertise to make bigger bombs or procure the required equipment. While the fear of a backlash was one part of the reason, the other was also to ensure that the heat was low, and this could be achieved only through an operation on a smaller scale.