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Maharashtra is a hub for SIMI and other Islamic terrorists Special Correspondent, Mumbai The recent haul of a large number of explosives and ammunition across the state of Maharashtra has established the presence of a deep rooted terrorist network in the state. The police and intelligence agencies have unearthed ample evidence to learn that small villages and towns of Maharashtra are terror hubs and bases. What was till now a strong belief has turned into a dangerous, deadly fact. Incidentally, this correspondent had reported that the terrorists were hiding large caches of arms and ammunition in and around Mumbai in an article dated 11th August, 2003. Mumbai has a long history of terror links. The CBI had arrested 12 persons in January 1994 from Mominpura in connection with a series of bomb blasts in several trains on December 6, 1993 and seized arms and ammunition from them. These included the brain behind the blasts, Dr. Mohammad Jalees Ansari, who is currently behind bars in Malegaon (Maharashtra). Acting on information, CBI conducted raids and seized explosives, weapons of foreign make and country made revolvers, ammunition, detonators, timing devices, wireless sets, Indian and foreign currency and lots of incriminating literature. After CBI crackdown on ISI operatives and Islamic terrorists in Mumbai, they shifted their base to Malegaon, Aurngabad, Padhgha-Borivali, Bhivandi, Mumbra-Kousa and some other areas of Maharashtra. Mumbra-Kousa, in Thane district, is also a base of SIMI and other fundamentalist groups for last one decade. However, when Mumbai police reached these pockets and cracked down on the activities of Islamic terrorists and ISI agents, they shifted their base to thickly populated area of Mumbai city. Three major hubs of SIMI activists in Mumabi are in Dongri, Madanpura and Jogeshwari. Dongri and Madanpura are situated in South Mumbai and thickly populated with minority community, whereas Jogeshwari is situated in western suburbs and members of SIMI, LeT, Ahle-Hadees terrorists and ISI agents operate from there. Padhga-Borivali is also a hub for Islamic terrorists. Police and IB Offices believe that this village is a SIMI stronghold. When asked about SIMI's activities and their base in Mumbai, a senior police officer said, 'We have certain leads about SIMI's activities and we also know where they are operating from, but it is difficult to share such information with the media and public. If we disclose this information, our investigation about earlier bomb blasts will get hampered.' Another senior placed officer said that that LeT South India Commander Irfan and his close associate Anwar were in touch with SIMI operatives all around Maharashtra. They stayed in Mumbra-Kousa, Kalyan and Bhivandi area for some time. A nationwide protest was organised by SIMI activists in March 2001 against the burning of the Quran in New Delhi. Padhgha and Thane police raided houses in Padhgha In June 2001 and recovered SIMI handbills condemning the burning of the Quran. Senior police officers said that Saqib Nachan, who had motivated Muslim youth in Padhgha and sent them to training centers located in Muzaffarbad, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, had travelled to Bangkok to plan the blasts in Mumbai city. A former Joint Commissioner of Police confirmed that after Nachans interrogation revealed certain links, including the involvement of Hasim Mullah, who was picked up from Padhgha. On 27 March 2003, DCP of Mumbai police, Crime Branch, Pradip Sawant went to Padhgha-Borivali with his team, to arrest Saqib Abdul Nachan. Approximately 300 villagers gathered and confronted the police. The police had to free Nachan when they saw the anger of villagers of Padhgha. For this incident, the police arrested 4 SIMI operatives on 31st march, 2003. Those arrested were Nasir Majid Khot, Sadad Khalid Mulla, Aatiq Yusuf Suse and Shahjaad Ubed Mulla. After a week, Mumbai police recovered huge quantity of arms and bombs from a hideout in Padhgha village. This haul contained 84 crude bombs, 2 AK 47s, hundreds of bullets, gelatin rods, detonators, batteries and some other necessary items used in detonation of bombs. Another place that has assumed sensitive status in connection with terrorist activities is Aurangabad. The police suspected that SIMI, LeT, MDF and Al-Quaida were behind Mulund Local blast, and sent two teams to Aurangabad for investigations to arrest Irfan Ahmed Qureishi of Usmanpura, Shah Colony; Sheikh Yahya Abdul Rehman of Qaiser Colony, and Siddiqui Taj-ul-Islam of Shah Bazaar. Mumbai police claims that these accused owns a share in an Aurangabad software firm called 'Pragma Soft Technologies'. Shaikh Mohammed Muzammil Zamil Ahmed owns this company and is already in custody along with Zaheer Ahmed Bashir Ahmed Shaikh and Mohammed Abdul Mateen Abdul Baseed. Police alleged that Pragma Soft was used as a hideout of banned SIMI. The police are also after Bashit Ansari another Aurangabad citizen, who has reportedly fled to Dubai. An arrested accused, Sayyed Khwaja Yunus Sayeed Khwaja Ayub, escaped some time back while being brought to Aurangabad city for investigations. His father alleged that Mumbai police had killed his son in custody and had cooked up a false story to save themselves. During investigation, the police recovered 64 photographs of important installations around Aurangabad and documentary films in which some Muslim clerics were inciting Muslim youth to engage in jihad. These CDs contained video clips of Palestinian struggle against Israel, few clips of Gujarat riots, information on Quran titled 'Nanha Farishta' and a CD titled 'Jihad-e-Hindustan'. Mumbai Crime Branch raided Nebula Communications at Kaisar Colony of Aurangabad and arrested Abeed Ali in connection with Ghatkopar blast. According to Mumbai police, Abeed ran a STD booth and helped other suspects to communicate with each other. Dr Abdul Matin (27) was also apprehended from Aurangabad in connection with the Ghatkopar bus blast. Malegaon is also a known place for terror links and activities. CBI sources inform that Dr. Jalees Ansari had learned to assemble bombs from Azam Gauri, and improvised on his technique. He exploded a bomb as an experiment on the bank of a river in Malegaon. He was arrested for the same but released on bail. Malegaon is also a base of SIMI activists and the police have arrested number of SIMI activists in recent past. Ahle-Hadees (AhHd) Maharashtra chief also belongs to Malegaon. This organisation is also under Intelligence scanner. Saqib Nachan also informed the police about the AhHd's hand in Mulund blast. A Senior Police officer told to this reporter with the request of anonymity that Malegaon is a training base for AhHd. The intelligence agencies are also keeping an eye on Mhapoli, a village on the Bhiwandi-Wada road, for its terror links. This is a small hamlet 60 km away from Mumbai, and falls under the jurisdiction of Ganeshpuri police station, Thane rural police. Its population is just 5,000, with a majority of Konkani Muslims, who are mostly involved mostly in farming. The Crime Branch officers had arrested Rehan Asgavkar from Mhapoli in connection with Ghatkopar blast. .. .. .. |
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