Major crackdown! Indian security agencies held 1993 Mumbai blast accused and Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide in UAE

New Delhi, Feb 05: Nearly after 3 decades of manhunt, Indian security agencies have finally held India's one of most wanted terrorists, Abu Bakar, who is prime accused of the 1993 Mumbai serial blast in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The process of Bakar’s extradition has been initiated.

 

 

One of the prime conspirators of the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Abu Bakar Abdul Gafur Shaikh, is Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide. He had been residing in UAE and Pakistan. In 1997, a ‘Red Corner Notice’ was issued against him.

 

A series of 12 terrorist blasts at different places had rocked Mumbai (then known as Bombay) on 12 March 1993 resulting in 257 fatalities and over 700 injuries.

 

The apprehended terrorist was involved in arms and explosives training in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, landing of RDX used in the serial blasts, and conspiracy and planning at Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Dubai. Besides that, Bakar was also involved in the smuggling of gold, clothing, and electronics from Gulf countries to Mumbai with Mohammad and Mustafa Dossa – key lieutenants of Dawood Ibrahim.

 

 

 

Abu Bakar has several business interests in Dubai and has married an Iranian national who is his second wife. Bakar was once apprehended in 2019. However, he had managed to evade arrest by the UAE authorities due to some documentation issues.

 

On 21 March 2013, the Supreme Court gave its judgment upholding the death sentence against Yakub Memon, convicted for arranging and financing training and purchasing vehicles used for the bombings, while commuting the previous death sentences against 10 others to life in prison.

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