india

Updated: May 14, 2018 00:09 IST

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 11 arrested an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative who, the agency said, was planning to kill several leading Indian politicians and film personalities, and conduct a series of bomb explosions in several cities. A Kolkata Police Special Task Force provided key information to Maharashtra ATS that led to the arrest.

Faisal Hasan Mirza, a 32-year-old electrician and resident of Jogeshwari in north-west Mumbai, was allegedly in touch with LeT members. ATS officials said his association with the terror outfit that carried out the November 26, 2008, attack on Mumbai became stronger when he went to Sharjah and later Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

There, he allegedly came in contact with Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Amir Reza Khan, who made arrangements for him to reach Karachi, Kolkata STF officers said on Sunday. In Karachi at an LeT terror training camp, he was allegedly trained in handling explosives and automatic weapons and carrying out suicide bombings.

A senior Kolkata STF officer told HT, “Mirza returned to Mumbai around two months ago and was waiting for orders to carry out attacks.”

Kolkata STF officers said that when they were tipped off about his return to India, they put him under surveillance. Once they confirmed his terror plans, the STF alerted Maharashtra ATS, following which the latter’s Juhu unit in Mumbai’s north-west nabbed Mirza from his residence. He was produced in court and remanded in police custody until May 21 for questioning by the ATS. Sources told HT that Mirza’s interrogation may reveal information that could lead to more arrests.

According to ATS officials, “He was called to Pakistan by a wanted terrorist. Mirza went to Sharjah and then Dubai to meet this conduit, and received the logistical support to visit Pakistan and attend the LeT terror camp. This camp was actively backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).”

Kolkata STF officials added, “In Pakistan, Mirza remained in touch with Amir Reza Khan, a founding member of IM. Khan is wanted by Interpol for his role in the 2001 abduction of shoe baron Partha Roy Burman and a 2002 terror attack on American Cultural Centre in Kolkata.”