IISc attack mastermind Abu Saifullah Khalid killed in Pakistan gunfire, revelations shed new light on 2005 Bengaluru terror strike

Bengaluru: The man who masterminded the 2005 terror attack on the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has been identified as Rajaullah Nizamani alias Abu Saifullah Khalid, who was recently shot dead by unidentified assailants in Sindh province, Pakistan. This revelation overturns the earlier belief that Pakistani terrorist Abu Hamza was the key conspirator behind the attack.

Sources now reveal that Saifullah Khalid, who had once gone underground in Nepal under the alias Vinod Kumar, was the real planner of the attack. While in Nepal, he reportedly married a woman named Nagma Banu and was actively involved in plotting attacks against India. Later, he fled to Pakistan and continued his activities in hiding.

The 2005 IISc attack
On December 28, 2005, the IISc campus in Bengaluru hosted an international conference attended by hundreds of dignitaries and academics from India and abroad. Using this opportunity, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives Habib Mian, Abu Hamza, Shabbabuddin, and Syed Ansari—who had arrived in the city ten days prior—plotted a deadly strike.

Disguised in army uniforms, two militants entered the premises towards the end of the event. Armed with grenades and firearms, they hurled explosives to create chaos and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of Professor M.C. Puri and injuries to 7–8 others. Abu Hamza reportedly fled to Pakistan via Mumbai following the attack, while the others were later arrested in India.

Although initial investigations pointed to Abu Hamza as the mastermind, new findings indicate that Abu Saifullah Khalid was the actual planner. Other suspects such as Aziz from Hyderabad and Mujamil from North India were believed to have aided the operation.

Saifullah Khalid’s terror trail in India
According to intelligence sources, Saifullah Khalid rose through the ranks of Lashkar-e-Taiba from a ground-level operative to a close aide of top commanders. He was known to plan subsequent attacks immediately after each operation.

Major attacks attributed to Saifullah Khalid:

2006: RSS HQ attack plot in Nagpur
Saifullah plotted an assault on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur by sending three operatives dressed as policemen. The plot was foiled after intelligence tipped off police, who neutralized all three attackers in a gunfight lasting 30 minutes.

2008: CRPF camp attack in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh
On January 1, 2008, LeT operatives launched a surprise gun attack on the CRPF camp, killing seven personnel and one civilian. Several others were injured. Eight suspects were arrested, of whom six were convicted in 2019.

Indian intelligence reports also claim that a Nepal-based terror module was being used by Saifullah to coordinate attacks on Indian soil. Following increased scrutiny, he fled to Pakistan, where he continued to operate until his recent death.