The ATS, which had arrested 13 SIMI members in 2006 for their alleged role in the 11/7 Mumbai train blasts, pointed to a flat in Govandi as the birthplace of the bombs that ripped apart Mumbai’s suburban trains. According to then-city police commissioner A N Roy, around 20 kg of RDX was smuggled into India by Ehsanullah, and 10 other Pakistanis in March 2006 through West Bengal, Gujarat and Nepal. The ATS claimed they stayed in rented rooms in Mumbra, Matunga and Mira Road prior to the blasts.
The Indian accused with the help of the Pakistanis, manufactured the bombs at a 100 sq ft room in Govandi. The ATS had said 18 persons were present in the room when the bombs were being assembled. The bombs were then transported to prime accused Faisal Shaikh’s rented flat in Bandra and from there they were taken to Churchgate in seven taxis. Each pair had an Indian and a Pakistani, said the ATS. Faisal was termed as the Western Indian commander of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba. The accused planted bombs in seven trains and got down but one Pakistani, Saleem, could not get off and was killed in the blast. Another Pakistani, Omaid alias Osama, who was part of this operation, was killed in an encounter by the ATS on August 22, 2006.
The Govandi flat was owned by Mohammed Ali. His younger and elder brothers’ families – 14 members in all -stay in the 100 sq ft room which has a small mezzanine floor as well. The flat was purchased by Ali’s father around 25 years ago
As reported in TOI on 17 March , 2009
