Originally from Nanded in Maharashtra, the convict was serving a life sentence
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD – Syed Maqbool alias Jubair of the banned outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) and a convict in the 2013 Dilshuknagar blasts case died in Cherlapally Central Prison on Thursday.
The 44-year-old convict, originally from Nanded in Maharashtra, was receiving treatment at the prison for various ailments, a Siasat.com report said on Friday.
Maqbool was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals and injuries to over 130 others.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had accused him of having strong connections with high-ranking IM members, including Riyaz Bhatkal, who is based in Pakistan, as well as other operatives within India.
According to the NIA, the IM had plotted multiple attacks across the country, with Hyderabad being a primary target.
Maqbool was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court in October 2023. He was transferred to Cherlapally prison in November last year to serve his sentence related to cases in Telangana.
Two bomb blasts in the Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad took place in a crowded shopping area, with the first bomb detonating at around 7:02 PM near Anand Tiffins, followed by a second blast two minutes later near a bus stand close to the Venkatadri Theatre.
The bombs were identified as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) packed with iron nails, bolts, and ammonium nitrate, designed to maximise casualties.
Investigations revealed that the explosives were placed on bicycles parked at the blast sites. CCTV footage captured five individuals who were believed to have planted the bombs.
Key figures of the Indian Mujahideen including Yasin Bhatkal, were arrested and later sentenced to death for their role in the bombings. In December 2016, a special court sentenced Bhatkal and four others to death for waging war against the nation and for other charges related to the blasts.
