1993 blast accused Yeda Yakub dies of heart attack in Karachi

Accused in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case, Yakub Wali Mohammad Khan, also known as Yeda Yakub, died in Karachi on Thursday, Mumbai police sources claimed. Yakub was instrumental in landing RDX before the blast. He led to the seizure of around 1,400 kg of RDX kept in a Mumbra storage, police sources said.

"We have learnt that Yakub has died of heart attack. He had fled after the blasts," said a police officer.

As per the police, Yakub was involved in landing of RDX before the blast. He led to the seizure of around 1,400 kg of RDX kept in a Mumbra storage. "Some of the explosives were also thrown in Thane creek," the officer associated with the blast investigation said.

The officer said that Yakub was not directly affiliated to either gangster Dawood Ibrahim or his close associate Tiger Memon. "Yakub was having his own transport business then and owned trucks. He was also in the company of notorious people and was often involved in assault instances. He knew both Dawood and Tiger, and in order to carry out the blasts in Mumbai, they wanted all gangsters to come on a single platform and this is why Yakub joined hands with him," the officer said.

Yakub was very short-tempered, which earned him the monicker Yeda, an officer said. He had fled after the blasts, following which a red-corner notice (RCN) was issued against him. Yakub was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions with an intent to cause death and damage to property, and terrorist activities in his RCN number A-346/8-1993.

A family friend of Yakub also confirmed to dna that he had passed away in Pakistan on Thursday afternoon. Yakub is survived by two sons, who live in Mumbai and are into construction business. "Yakub used to often shuttle between Karachi and Dubai. The family has refused to disclose how and where the last rites of Yakub would be performed," the family friend said.