Author: Debasish Panigrahi
Publication: Afternoon Despatch
& Courier
Date: May 15, 2003
Blast probe enters second phase,
police close on the financial-cum-legal base of terrorists
After ripping open the plot and
logistics behind the series of explosions across the city, the Mumbai police
have now entered their second and more crucial phase of investigation.
i.e. closing in on the financial base of the local terrorist group that
sustained, fuelled and materialised the subversive plans for over two years.
And with each passing day, the deep-rooted
financial network established by the main perpetrator, Saquib Nachen to
further the plan, is becoming increasingly evident.
To begin with, the police are now
zeroing in on the 'Legal Aid Cell', set up by Nachen in the guise of championing
the cause of the community. The Cell by Nachen, a former TADA detenue,
spanned across several states with the sympathiser base extending into
almost all facets of public and technical services.
Senior Crime Branch sources claimed
that the Legal Aid Cell (for minorities) had its main organisational bases
in Padgah, Bhiwandi, Pune, Malegaon (apart from Mumbai), and also in Ahmedabad
and Surat in Gujarat. Information about the similar cells in operation,
have also been received from Hyderabad, Chennai and Kerala.
The purpose of the cell, according
to sources, was to seek the release of arrested criminals belonging to
a particular community by employing the service of the best of legal brains.
And after securing their release, make them work for the organisation.
According to sources, the main donation
for the cell used to be collected at various mosques in these cities soon
after the Friday prayer. Also, the volunteers, as they call those engaged
in the service, used to collect funds from the rich and highly-placed members
of the community, on the pretext of philanthropic work.
Moreover, the arrest of Anwar Ali,
a Urdu lecturer at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune and recovery
of a H-36 hand grenade (manufactured at the Ordinance Factory, Khadki)
is being taken very seriously. This is, in a way, a confirmation of the
fact that the subversive elements have their moles in the top defence establishments
of the country.
A secret probe has now been launched
to track down the entire sympathiser base of Saquib Nachen's organisation,
which is nothing but the now-outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India
(SIMI), who sustained and fuelled the terrorist gameplan over the years.
"No one will be spared," the police warned.
Yesterday's recovery, which included
four AK-46 rifles, three pistols, two revolvers, two guns, 250 hand grenades,
160 live cartridges, 11 empty cartridges and three pipe bombs from various
places at Padgah village came as a shock to the investigating team. "These
explosives are enough to wipe out half of Mumbai," a senior Crime Branch
officer said while commenting on the possible eventuality in case of their
use.
These weapons and explosives, which
had been divided in several houses in Padgah, were dumped in a nearby well
following the police crackdown. Nevertheless, what has baffled the police
more is the recovery of huge quantity of weapon-grade cyanides. The poisonous
fume caused by the cyanide, when used in bombs, would result in heavy human
casualty, something akin to a chemical weapon.
