Bhopal train blast: Agencies probing role of AQIS and SIMI, says IS role may be premature

NEW DELHI: The conclusion that Islamic State was behind the low intensity blast at a train near Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain even as anti-terror operation was underway in Lucknow could have been premature as the modus operandi, choice of location and type of IED used suggests that either a module of Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) or the SIMI could have hit the Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger train.

The role of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in the IED blast at the train in Madhya Pradesh could not be ruled out as the banned outfit has been planning to avenge the Bhopal jailbreak encounter incident for the past few months. The timing of retaliation could have been chosen in the wake of conviction of top SIMI leadership including its former chief  Safdar Nagori, top Intelligence sources said, adding Ujjain and Indore have traditionally been SIMI strongholds.

The Intelligence agencies and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are also looking into the possibility of another group taking advantage of the sympathy generated within the Muslim community after the encounter of SIMI operatives post-Bhopal jailbreak.

The sources said AQIS was actively seeking to take advantage of the situation to bring disgruntled Muslim youth to its fold in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for the past many months. AQIS chief Maulana Asim Umar has been issuing statements online to provoke such youth to carry out attacks against other communities, including during the Assembly polls in the UP. Through one statement, Umar had even distorted Islamic scriptures and historical accounts to enlist the support from its sympathizers for furthering its jehadi agenda in the country.

The agenda of the AQIS in India is two-pronged--- to recruit youths and to execute attacks in the country after training them, providing knowhow and funding. The agenda of the IS on the other hand is to use India as a recruitment ground and sourcing logistics for carrying its international jehadi agenda in countries like Syria where it has lost sizeable territory after attacks by the Russian and other forces, Intelligence officials said.

Preliminary probe suggests the low intensity of the blast through pipe bomb and taking accommodation on rent posing as students are common tactics deployed by the AQIS in Bangladesh.