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Mumbai. Two people arrested by the Pune (security) Anti-Terrorism Squad in connection with a National Investigation Agencycase in Rajasthan wanted to carry out an ‘attack bigger than the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks’ at multiple places using technology.
The Pune ATS arrested Mohd Imran and Mohd Yunus from the busy Kothrud area of Pune, who were allegedly working for Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) wing SUFA and were wanted in the NIA case. On Friday, the ATS arrested Simab Nasruddin Qazi, a resident of Pendari in Ratnagiri, for helping Imran and Yunus. Mechanical engineer Qazi is alleged to have sent money to Kondhwa-based graphic designer Kadir Dastgir Pathan.
Sources said that Imran and Yunus are hardcore operatives of the Islamic State (IS or ISIS). Sources said, “They chose places that are not only important but also strategic, so that the attack would have a deep impact.”
Reiki of prominent places in Mumbai
According to sources, both had done very advance recce of important places including Chabad House and Naval Helipad near Colaba slum area in Mumbai. He said, “They wanted to attack major temples in Mumbai, where a large number of devotees come.”
Sources said they wanted to attack hydropower projects, which are vital for the country’s development and progress. Along with this, he told that he had also taken many pictures of Colaba area.
Sources said that the data of his laptop also shows that he had also done research on VIP movements in large convoys. He said, ‘This group was working very systematically. On one hand they were doing Reiki and on the other hand they were training people to make improvised explosive devices and explosives. A lot of training material has also been seized from their hideouts.” According to sources, these arrests were well timed as they were in the early stages of their planning.
Chabad House security beefed up
The Chabad House was one of the 12 locations targeted by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba members during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Nariman Lighthouse was named on the 10th anniversary of this 26/11 attack.
It is a Jewish Outreach Center, which was then run by Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. During the attack, six of its men were killed, including Holtzberg and his wife, who was six months pregnant. Their two-year-old son Moshe survived the attack, being rescued by his Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel. After the arrest of these suspected terrorists, the police conducted a mock drill at the spot and increased security in the area.
