On Pak terrorists’ trail, cops check 581 hotels

But Are Yet To Make Headway

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: To locate three Pakistani terrorists who are believed to have sneaked into the city, the police have checked at least 581 hotels, 426 addresses of Pak and Afghan nationals staying in Mumbai and verified the details of 25 people spotted near various foreign consulates. But they are yet to make a headway.

An intelligence alert issued to the city police had stated that three Pakistanis had entered the city with the intention of coordinating the logistic support for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) attackers. “Two or three more attackers are scheduled to reach India,’’ the alert had stated. It also indicated that the Al-Falah group (yet to be identified but could be related to the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, an LeT front) could have links with the infiltrators.

After the 26/11 attacks, there have been over 300 intelligence alerts, all of which mentioned infiltration from Pakistan. However, not a single suspect has been caught so far. In an earlier alert, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had stated that suspects belonging to Bangladesh-based Jama’atul Mujahideen had reached Sri Lanka and were planning to enter India via the sea. The alert had given specific information about the ship with the Pakistanis on board but the security agencies are yet to trace them.

The alerts had stated that Pakistan-based terrorists want to target Mumbai again and were planning attacks on various consulates. But, no specific consulate was named.

A note issued by the special branch, which looks after the city’s intelligence department, stated that so far, 2,068 people were checked but nothing suspicious was found. According to the report, 233 people in and around mosques,temples, 80 in shopping malls, 327 near big government offices and 22 near the Naval base have been examined, but to no avail.

The addresses provided by 426 Afghanistan and Pakistani nationals, who came to Mumbai for a temporary stay, were also examined. The Afghans and Pakistanis, who visit the city, have to register with the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office within 24 hours of their arrival. A police team then verifies the places and duration of their stay. The special branch keeps an eye on their activities.

Another alert in connection with the Republic Day parade (January 26, 2010) in New Delhi stated that there was a need to monitor the activities of Islamic and Sikh extremists in Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The Times of India, December 29, 2009