National
Slain Pak. terrorists were under watch
By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar
NEW DELHI, JAN. 28. Mohammad Idris and Salim, the two Pakistani militants killed by a joint team of Delhi and Bihar police in Hazaribagh early this morning, were both under observation of the Delhi police for the past four months and their e-mails and telephones were being constantly monitored. Both were wanted in connection with the attack on the American Center in Kolkata.
The names of the two ISI-backed militants had first cropped up when Asif Reza Khan alias Miraj _ a trusted aide of notorious extortionist Aftab Ansari _ was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi police in September 2001. Incidentally, it is Ansari, the leader of Asif Reza Commando Force, who claimed responsibility for the January 22 attack.
Police sources said the Crime Branch of Delhi police had narrowed down on Idris and Salim after their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers had become available in the investigation of Asif Reza and his associate, Arshad Khan alias Misab Ali, a Pakistan national.
The two were arrested from Lodhi Garden in September. Belonging to the Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami outfit, which has offices in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the duo were caught in the possession of two Chinese made grenades, one Star pistol and seven rounds of ammunition.
A case was subsequently registered at Tughlaq Road police station. The duo had come to Delhi to set up a base here. The gang till then was primarily involved in extortions and had reportedly abducted and released Calcutta businessman Partha Roy Burman on reported payment of a Rs 4 crore ransom. Reza was also involved in the kidnapping of Gujarat jeweller, B. Parikh and Jayanti Lal, a relative of filmstar Govinda.
The interrogation of Reza had revealed that the gang was to receive a consignment of RDX and arms and ammunition. The police wanted to keep the arrests under wraps as they wanted to catch all the gang members with the consignment. But as the news of the arrest of Asif Reza and Arshad Khan got out, the police had to move quickly with the help of Rajkot police.
A consignment of RDX was subsequently intercepted in Rajkot but the police was unable to nab all the culprits. ``The Kolkata incident would not have taken place had the case been worked out as per plan,'' lamented a senior officer.
Later in November 2001, Asif Reza was taken on remand by the Rajkot police. He was subsequently killed in a ``police encounter'' while he was trying to flee from custody. It is now believed that Aftab Ansari carried out the Kolkata strike to avenge the death of Asif Reza and to establish himself as a leader of the group.
As the names of Idris and Salim had figured in the interrogation of Asif and Arshad, the police were observing them. However, they had not realised that the duo would get involved in something as big as the American Center attack. But following the attack, it did not take long for the Crime Branch police to realise that the duo were involved in the attack.
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