In their confession, Mohammed Iqbal Shaikh and Nasim Barmare, both 33, who were convicted on Monday for the ‘93 blasts, had given a blow-by-blow account of their mission to destroy aircraft at Sahar Airport. Excerpts:
Nasim Shaikh Barmare
“My friend Aatik got a job for me in Dubai and I left on January 28, 1993. I was then sent to Pakistan for weapons training. Tahirbhai told us that this training would help if riots break out in Mumbai again. He then gave each one of us Rs1,000 in Pakistani currency and skull caps.
“On reaching Islamabad, one Ahmed facilitated our exit from the airport without us undergoing any security checks or clearances. We were then taken for weapons training where we learnt how to use AK-56 rifles and make bombs. We were also taught how to fix a detonator and use hand grenades. A few days later, we returned to Dubai. Tahir instigated us and told us to avenge the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the killings of Muslims in the riots. Tiger Memon then made us take an oath to maintain secrecy. We left for Mumbai. Later, Tiger came and asked me to bomb Sahar airport. The grenade that I hurled was aimed at an Air-India aircraft. Since it exploded mid-air, I got scared and fled the scene.”
Mohammed Iqbal Shaikh
“I met Tigerbhai, Javed Chikna, Irfan Chougule and others at a place behind Bhabha hospital at Bandra. We took an oath over the Quran and declared jihad. A few days later, Tiger took us to a jungle and we underwent weapons training there. Later, we met at Bandra where Tiger revealed the details of the plot to bomb the city and acquainted us with our roles in the plan.
“The next day, we met at Tiger’s house in Mahim and along with Javed Chikna, Bashir Muchhad filled RDX into two cars and three scooters. On March 12, Javed gave me a key and instructed me to park an RDX-filled scooter outside Kailash lassi shop near Dadar (east) railway station. After parking the scooter, I returned to Tiger’s house. Here Javed and Bashir gave me and Naseem hand grenades and asked us to go to Sahar airport. When we reached there, Naseem threw a grenade at an aircraft and it exploded.”
