Organizational History

The Indian Mujahideen (IM) is a loosely knit, home-grown Islamist terror group in India made up of "self-made jihadists bound together by ideological affiliation and personal ties." It was founded by Mohammed Sadiq Israr Sheikh, Atif Ameen, and Roshan Khan a.k.a. Riyaz Bhatkal, and is linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Bangladesh-based militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami of Bangladesh (HuJI-B). The three had worked with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and were reportedly under the control of Amir Raza Khan (Amir Razza) of the LeT. Some police officials believe that the group is just a “front organization” or “a second version” of the SIMI. The Director General of the Gujarat Police, P. C. Pande, noted that the IM only came out after SIMI was banned.  On the other hand, Ahmedabad’s Joint Commissioner of Police, Ashish Bhatia, pointed out that after the arrest of Safdar Nagori of SIMI, the group got divided into two factions: the hardliners and the moderates. Bhatia said that the hardliner group is what is now known as the Indian Mujahideen. IM members are believed to have been trained in arms and explosive handling in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The name Indian Mujahideen was coined by its three founders in 2008.

The group first caught attention after it claimed responsibility for the series of bombings in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and New Delhi in 2007 and 2008. At present, it is considered an illegal organization and is banned in India. In 2008, the Indian Crime Branch arrested 21 suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives for allegedly sending emails to media houses ahead of the blasts in Gujarat and Delhi, claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Structure

The Indian Mujahideen is widely considered to be composed of lower-tier members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). During an interrogation of Mohammad Saif, Saif told authorities of the main structure of the Indian Mujahideen. He stated that it is separated into four parts (or wings) each one with a specific purpose: the Shahabuddin Ghouri Brigade is headed by Amir Raza Khan (Amir Razza) and is responsible for planning and executing attacks in southern India; the Muhammad Ghaznavi Brigade is responsible for planning and executing terror strikes in northern India; the Shaheed-al-Zarqawi Brigade is responsible for targeting political and other important personalities of the country as well as organizing suicide attacks; and the Media Wing is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, and the wing was responsible for email and print media communications/press release of manifestos before or after the blasts. [2] The arrest of IM cadres from different locations demonstrates the geographical spread of a terror network that now spans the length and breadth of India — possibly even extending into neighboring states. 

The Enforcement Directorate of the Indian government has recently begun investigations into funding channels for the IM. [3] In 2008, a Saudi national was arrested for allegedly funding the organization, although information about the transactions was limited. The IM likely receives funding from their parent/affiliate groups: Students Islamic Movement of India, Laskar e-Tayyiba, and Harakat ul-Jihad i-Islami/Bangladesh.

Recruitment

There are two major recruitment grounds in India: Many of the members of the Indian Mujahideen come from Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the city of Pune is considered an “important base and recruiting ground” of the Indian Mujahideen because it is an IT and educational hub popular with foreigners. It is considered the education capital of India.

Tactics

IM came into the open for the first time in November 2007, when simultaneous bomb blasts targeted lawyers in court premises in three Uttar Pradesh cities—Varanasi, Faizabad (Ayodhya), and Lucknow (NDTV, November 23, 2007). IM described the attacks as “Islamic raids” and justified them as revenge against lawyers who had allegedly assaulted a couple of Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist suspects.
 

In the summer and fall of 2008, the IM perpetrated serial bomb blasts against four different cities. In May, Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan State, suffered nine bomb blasts that killed over 60 and injured scores of people. The explosions occurred in busy market places, including Tripolia market, Manek Chowk and Johri Bazaar. In late July, IM planted bombs in both Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. In Bengaluru there were eight simultaneous low-intensity blasts against a checkpoint and various civilian areas, in which at least two people were killed and seven injured. In Ahmedabad, 38 people were killed and more than 100 others injured from 16 serial blasts. Most of the blasts occurred in crowded places where civilians were the chief target. In September, the national capital, New Delhi, was hit by a series of five bomb blasts that killed nearly 30 people and injured over 100 others. The explosions took place in the crowded Karol Bagh area, the busy Barakhamba Road, the market place at Greater Kailash, and the Central Park in Cannaught Place area.
 

Most recent was the bombing of the German Bakery in Koregaon Park area in Pune, killing 16 people and injuring several others. The Indian Mujahideen and the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) both claimed responsibility for the attack. Foreigners and students frequented the bakery, which was located near the Osho Ashram and a Jewish prayer house.

The IM-related serial bombing attacks from 2007 to 2010 have demonstrated the group’s capabilities of building and planting elaborate improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They have utilized a variety of components including timing devices, mobile phones, gelatin sticks, shrapnel and batteries. IM militants have also employed cars and bicycles in delivering and/or hiding the devices.  

Gallery

References

1. Fair, C. (2010). "Student of the Islamic Movement of India and the Indian Mujahideen: An Assessment," Asia Policy, 9, 101-119. Retrieved on June 13, 2011, from [1]
2. Uncovering the Funding for Indian Mujahideen Terrorists. (2010, April 8). Press Trust of India. Retrieved from [2]
3. Shekhar, S. (2011, January 13). Is Riaz Bhatkal Really Dead? Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [3]
4. Behl, A. (2008, September 13). Indian Mujahideen Claim Responsibility for Blasts. Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [4]
5. Indian Mujahideen's Bhatkal Brothers may be Behind Varanasi Blast: Police (2010, December 8). Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [5]
6. Mumbai Police File Chargesheet Against IM Cadre. Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [6]
7. Shekhar, S. (2010, September 9). IM Media Wing in Mumbai? Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [7]
8. Associated Press. (2010). Retrieved on June 9, 2011, from [8]