Daijiworld Media Network - Hubli (SP)

Hubli, Aug 12: Retired deputy superintendent of police of the state Corps of Detectives (COD), S S Khot, adducing evidence in the court here during the hearing of a case, said that the accused, who were identified with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), had planned to set off blasts in Mangalore and Goa. The hearing was for a case related to theft of a bike in 2008 that led to the arrest of Mohammed Ghouse alias Raziuddin Nasir of Hyderabad and Asadulla.

Raziuddin Nasir

Khot, who was the investigating officer of the case, and who participated in the ongoing hearing relating to the case at the first additional district and sessions court at Hubli on Monday August 11, told the presiding officer of the court, Gopalakrishna Kolli, that during interrogation, the accused had confessed about their plan to detonate bombs at Infosys office in Mangalore as well as the Goa coast.

"The accused told me that they had stayed in a lodge in Mangalore. They had decided to enter Infosys building through the southern gate. But they were stopped by the security staff at the entry gate. As such, their plan failed," Khot said, recalling the statements made in this connection by the arrested accused, Raziuddin Nasir and Asadulla, during their questioning.

He said that the accused also told him of the failure of their plan to steal a motor bike from Karavali Utsav ground in Mangalore. As the ground was too much crowded, the two returned after stealing a helmet, he added.

"Security staff of Infosys building have identified the photographs of Asadulla and his companion, Raziuddin. We also got statements relating to filling of petrol in their motor bike by the accused in a petrol bunk located 20 km away from the city. We also have records about the two having stayed at the Dargah at Agumbe," Khot explained.

He further said that a statement was obtained from the owners of a house near CBT Hubli, where the two had stayed after arriving there from Mangalore. "The accused also told me that they had planned to set of blasts at Calangute, Miramar and Baga beaches in Goa for killing Israeli citizens towards sending them a strong message. They were taken to those places for investigation. Both were identified by the manager and room boy of a lodge in Goa," Khot deposed.