M'lore: Education Hub Turning into Terrorists' Den - Explosives Supplied from City
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 26: The Karnataka coast, which has long been considered to be unharmful and safe as far as terrorist activities are concerned, appears to be fast moving towards donning the dubious distinction of being branded as the hub of terrorist activities. More concerning is the fact that Roshan Khan alias Riaz, founder member of Indian Mujahideen, who planned bomb blasts at Delhi, hails from Bhatkal.
Policemen of the district crime intelligence bureau suspect that Roshan Khan is now safely ensconced in Pakistan and directing activities from there. During interrogations, it was found that the weapons and explosives confiscated from the terrorists were supplied from Karnataka. This gives strong indication that the minions of Roshan Khan are operating from the coastal belt. The policemen claim that Roshan Khan had a hand in over 12 blasts the country over. It is said that after the Godhra carnage, Roshan has, with the tacit support of Huji and Lashkar-e-Toiba, trained more than a hundred youth from the country in Pakistan.
Investigators have also found out, that explosives were supplied to arrested terrorist Mohammed Saif, by a Mangalore-based person named by his code name, 'Bhai'. It is said, two others helped Bhai in the task. The Mumbai and Delhi police, who are conducting investigations in the city, are on the look out for these three conduits. It is believed that the explosives were brought from Kerala. The Delhi policemen are on a visit to Malappuram and other parts of Kerala, searching for these persons.
It is gathered that Saif was in continuous contact with Bhai since the day he reached Manipal and he talked to Bhai over landline. There have been rare occasions on which they conversed on the mobile too. During interrogations, Saif revealed that Bhai and two of his accomplices delivered the explosive materials to him at Udupi railway station. The investigators have also found that the terrorist had bought a SIM card from a shop in the city and that calls were made to this number from over 50 coin booths located in the city. In spite of all these, the local policemen have been feigning ignorance over these developments. The policemen are not willing to accept that the situation has become dangerous and immediate action is needed to control before it goes out of hand. Sources said that the police department is aware that the youth who help the terrorists, are trained at two centres within the state but no steps have been taken to stop the activity.
As per information conveyed through e-mail from the office of the district superintendent of police here recently, there are chances of some untoward incidents taking place in the city during Navaratri festival. All the police stations have been asked to be vigilant and alert to avert such incidents. Still, senior police officers are not willing to come out with more details. As there is intelligence information that important temples are likely to be targeted by the terrorists, Kerala government has already initiated steps to provide additional security for important temples. Similar steps are required to be taken by the Karnataka police too.