Author: Vinay Krishna
Rastogi
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: September 15,
2000
The recent arrest of
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student and terrorist Dr Mobin Ahmad in
connection with the series bomb blasts in the city has also revealed a
major intelligence failure.
During interrogation
in Lucknow, he has revealed that noted terrorist and area commander of
Pakistani militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, Mohammad Kalim, stayed
in Wazirganj and nearby localities for several months and supervised various
terrorist activities, including the bomb blasts. He said Kalim was also
the one behind the explosion near Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow on August 14.
However, as Special Task
Force and Intelligence officers Devendra Singh Bhadauria and Shiv Charan
Parihar started raiding his hideouts, Kalim fled. It if feared that he
has already crossed the border. However, Kalim's brother Faisal was apprehended
and is being interrogated. Several activists of the students Islamic Movement
of India (SIMI), including Shibil Beg, have been arrested in connection
with the bomb blasts. Five SIMI activists and a trader have also been arrested
from Nazirabad market.
Meanwhile, the state
Government has directed Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to hand over the
12 students of Habib Hostel who had tortured and tattooed the body of Assistant
Central Intelligence Officer Rajendra Sharma. Principal Home Secretary
V K Mittal said that orders had been issued to attach properties of these
students. However, AMU authorities did not reveal the students' addresses.
He added, Sharma faced the students' wrath because they were angry at Mobin's
arrest.