The Hindu : `Imran deportation a strong signal to the underworld'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 11, 2003

National

National

`Imran deportation a strong signal to the underworld'

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI JAN. 10. With the swift deportation of Imran Rehman Khan, key suspect in the bomb blast at Ghatkopar in Mumbai last month from Dubai last night on the request from the Indian Government, sources in the law enforcement agencies here feel that a strong signal has gone to the underworld that foreign governments are serious in cooperating to tackle such crime.

After the Anis Ibrahim fiasco, the deportation of Imran has come as a "positive'' development for the Government as well as the police and Central intelligence agencies who had done the spadework and provided vital tips. The December two blast in a bus in Ghatkopar had left two persons dead and 51 injured.

Sources also described as significant, the arrest of Shakeel Ahmed Sheikh alias Lamboo Shakeel, pointman of Dawood Ibrahim in India until the early 90s. He was traced in Mumbai with the help of clues provided by the Central intelligence agencies.

Initial reports indicate that Imran was recruited in Saudi Arabia some time in March-April 2002 by the local cell of the militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba which was set up with the blessings of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Sources here said that it was the second Lashkar cell noticed outside Pakistan after the one in Kuwait that had subverted Shahid Ahmed Bakshi of Ahmedabad during February last year to target political leaders.

Bakshi was arrested in the Capital on August 28, 2002, along with an accomplice and bomb-making material, four kg of RDX explosive, a pistol and some ammunition were seized from his possession.

Sources claimed that Imran Khan was given cassettes by the Lashkar cadres exhorting revenge on those who had slain Muslims in Gujarat. He returned to India to form an attack squad comprising his friends Matin, Yunus and Zaheer. Imran was recalled to Saudi Arabia in May 2002 where he submitted his progress report to the LeT. On his return to India, money was received for arms and other supplies through illegal hawala channels. The group was carefully prepared by Imran and given specific instructions regarding the action to be taken by them. Imran left again for Saudi Arabia for fresh instructions and new targets leaving his group to stage the Ghatkopar bomb blasts.

On the other hand, Shakeel, said to be a "prize catch'' for the police, was reportedly the overseer and chief executive of the D-company since 1985 after Dawood Ibrahim fled India. He was responsible for the landing of contraband, including arms and explosives, shipped by the ISI through the D-company along the coastline, which were believed to have been used in the March 1993 Bombay serial blasts.

Originally a resident of Kanpur, Shakeel also acquired a passport in the name of Lari Mohammad Shakeel from Lucknow. Sources said that he could provide considerable information about Dawood's mandate and modus operandi in India, especially his method of running the organisation from Pakistan through Shakeel.

Remanded to police custody

PTI reports:

Imran Rehman Khan, who was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) at the Mumbai airport last night when he was brought to the country from Dubai, was remanded to police custody till January 17 by a special court in Mumbai today.

He was produced before the designated judge, A.P. Bhangale, amid tight security. The judge, who allowed him an interview with his lawyer, refused permission to meet his wife and the facility of home food.

To a query by the court, Imran said he was innocent. He had no complaints against the police, he added. The judge also allowed the prosecution plea to handcuff Khan.

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