Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Dec 3: Two suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operatives, arrested from Thane district of Maharashtra, were today produced before a local court and remanded to police custody till December 7.

Mohammad Shareef Makkhandeen Thakkar (33) and Mohammad Isaac Mohammad Rashid Kumlakh (29) were arrested on November 15 in Thane and booked under the Unlawful activities (prevention) act (UAPA) on November 21. Both were drivers of oil tankers and hail from Gakhrot in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The suspected terrorists were here to allegedly recruit members for carrying out terrorist activities by targeting oil installations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

In addition, they had been asked to provide details about military installations in Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad. They have been booked under relevant Sections of the UAPA.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria said they were acting as recruiting agents and stayed at Talasari, Silvassa and Vapi. They wanted to recruit oil tanker drivers who were well-versed with the roads and oil installations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat, he said.

Mr Maria said Shareef had done a recce of Mumbai Central railway station, two months back.

Earlier, they had been remanded to police custody till December 2.