Suspected Indian Mujahideen members Mohammed Irshad Khan (52) and Asif (23) of New Delhi allegedly visited Ritchie Street, Ranganathan Street and Parrys Corner, the most crowded market places in Chennai, last week, police sources said on Wednesday.

The two, accompanied by Abdul Rehman (19), a second year engineering student, went to Ritchie Street and purchased a laptop. “They probably gifted him the laptop for providing accommodation and logistics at Selaiyur. Rehman and Irshad belong to the same place in Bihar and got in touch with each other through a common friend. It could have also been a recce,” an investigator said.

Soon after the Delhi Police claimed to have busted a terror module of the Indian Mujahideen involving a few suspects, including Irshad, the Tamil Nadu police stepped up searches for Asif, who allegedly escaped from a house from where Irshad and Rehman were arrested on Sunday.

Director General of Police K. Ramanujam said Irshad was subjected to interrogation by a team comprising the Delhi Police, Intelligence Bureau and the Chennai Police. “There is definitely no sign of a design in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Precautionary steps

The Chennai Police have intensified security arrangements following the arrest of Irshad. About 100 high-value targets were identified in the city where policemen were deployed as a precautionary measure. Plainclothesmen were posted at railway stations, malls and places of worship. All hotel/lodge authorities were told to ensure the identity of guests. Vehicle checks and night patrolling would be stepped up during the run-up to the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6.

“Since there is information that Irshad and Asif visited a few places in the city, we are going through the recordings of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) network there. Surveillance cameras were installed on the Ritchie Street a month ago,” a senior police officer said.

Asked whether the suspects met students of a engineering college here and indoctrinated them, the officer said the police made enquiries with some students and found that no such activity took place.