ATS gives clean chit to 2 youths in IS case

Mateen Hafeez





Mumbai: The Maharashtra ATS has given a clean chit to Aaves Shaikh, a Madhya Pradesh resident, and Arshad Faisal from Saharanpur in UP, who were questioned for their alleged links to the terror outfit Islamic State (IS).

The state ATS summoned the two youths after their names emerged during investigations in the case of Parvez Tambe who has allegedly left India to join the IS.

Shaikh, who is from Khargone in MP , and Faisal were brought to Mumbai for questioning. While Shaikh as completed his BTech (electronics and relecommunications) and M Tech (thermal engineering) from Pune's MIT, Faisal, an engineer by profession, is a school teacher.

“They are free. We questioned and released them,“ Atulchandra Kulkarni, state ATS chief told TOI. An ATS source said the two youths were questioned thoroughly and were allowed to leave when the cops found they had nothing to do with the terror outfit or its activities.The ATS, as part of its investigation, scanned the duo's call data records, laptops and email accounts before giving them a clean chit.

Shaikh came under the radar after he lost his purse at Khandwa railway station in Madhya Pradesh. The wallet had a SIM card that was later used to upload a video on the Internet.

The Times of India, May 13, 2017

Right-wing terror recruit surrenders

TURNING BACKS ON TERROR: TOI had reported on April 3 and May 9 about six Muslim youths who had surrendered to cops

Youth Said He Was Trained To Use Firearms And Explosives

 

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Manoj Sharma (name changed) was a rightwing terror recruit who was twice given training in operating small and big firearms and executing bomb blasts, say sources in the security establishment. But he recently had a change of heart, decided not to perpetrate violence and surrendered to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
 

    Sharma, a Hindu youth, is the latest in a string of terror recruits who have decided to surrender to the ATS and pursue the path of peace. TOI recently reported that six Muslim youths who went to Pakistan for terror training surrendered before the state’s ATS after having a change of heart. TOI front-paged on April 3 the story of a 20-something MCom graduate who confessed to the ATS that he had received terror training in Pakistani militant camps. He added that he had no wish to kill anyone or hurt the country. The youth later secured a Rs 25,000-a-month job on the police’s recommendation. In the May 9 edition, TOI again front-paged the story of five more youths who surrendered to the ATS and confessed to receiving terror training at a camp in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. They were all provided jobs on the ATS’s recommendation.
 

    The police have said they want to “neutralize” youths who are being recruited by terror outfits and have started a counseling and de-indoctrination programme.
 

    Police sources said the 30-year-old Sharma was indoctrinated by a right-wing group to undergo training. The commerce graduate, who is now a “reformed Indian”, did not realize that what he was doing was wrong and not in the national interest. “He approached the police sometime ago to admit that he had received training,” said a police source. “He told police that he had been initially indoctrinated, provoked and prepared for terror training. Later, he was sent for a 15-day session where he attended lectures and learnt how to operate and assemble all types of important weapons.” There were around half-adozen more youths in this group, said sources.
 

    Later, Sharma was again “selected” for advanced training in identifying explosive devices, assembling them and making bombs. Sharma had been a member of a saffron outfit that concerns itself with the country’s “interest”. Police sources refused to reveal the place where Sharma was trained.
 

TOI had in 2006 reported that several youngsters involved in terror cases had been trained by right-wing groups in rural Maharashtra. A training camp was allegedly organized by 2008 Malegaon bomb blast accused Rakesh Dhawade at a fort near Sinhgarh in Pune. As many as 54 young recruits were allegedly trained to make and use bombs. On April 6, 2006, Naresh Rajkondwar, son of an executive engineer with the state’s irrigation department, and his friend Himanshu Panse died in Nanded while allegedly making bombs. It was initially registered as an accidental death case, but later converted to a terror case. Also, 2008 Malegaon blast suspect Lt Col Prasad Purohit allegedly arranged for young recruits to be trained in operating firearms. This was disclosed in statements given by witnesses in the blast case.
 

    “After completing his training, Sharma returned home but was not comfortable with the whole idea of terror training,” said the police source. “He realized later that the training was not in the national interest. He approached the police and gave his statement. He asked the police not to label him a terrorist and said he wouldn’t do anything that was against the nation’s interest. He was unemployed and policemen began searching for a job for him. Today, he is working on a monthly salary of Rs 18,000. This job, like the earlier ones, was provided on the recommendation of the ATS.”

The Times of India, June 17, 2012

ATS to help out kin of terror suspects

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The state anti-ter rorism squad (ATS) is on a re habilitation mission. The squad is scrutinizing the fi nancial and educational sta tus of families of those who have been caught or jailed various terror cases.
 

    ATS chief Rakesh Maria told TOI that he had instruct ed his officers to compile a re port and submit it to him “We will review the financial and educational status of the wives and children of these terror suspects. If the imme diate family members are financial crisis and do not have a job, we will make sure that they get jobs and lead their lives,” said Maria, add ing that it would help bridge the gap between the police and the public. “The wives and children of these sus pects are suffering for no rea son. They are not the sus pects. They have not committed any crime, so it time we rehabilitate them, added Maria.
 

    Speaking about the trau ma a mother of a terror sus pect faced, he said, “We arrested the operative of a banned outfit who was in volved in a terror case. When the news came out, the sus pect’s mother, who was em ployed with an English-medi um school, was sacked. The woman came to us, stating that she was the only earning member of the family.” Ma ria added that after running a background check, the squad issued a letter to the school management requesting them to reinstate her as it was no fault of hers. “Today, the woman is teaching in the same school,” he said.
 

    ATS officers said families of terror suspects are thrown into turmoil by the arrest. “No one thinks about the education of the children. We are trying to find out the educational status of such families and will help them continue their studies,” said an officer.
 

    The ATS will be organizing an interaction in the first week of June at Police Club, Azad Maidan. “We have invited intellectuals, journalists, maulvis, doctors, professors and social activists for the interaction session. It is an attempt to meet the community and erase the misconception in their minds about the police. We are also trying to find out what can be done to eradicate terrorism from our state,” said Maria.
 

 

Change of Heart I n the last two months, the ATS arranged jobs for two youths who came to them. “They had gone abroad for (terror) training. After returning to India, they had a change of heart and realized the path they chose was wrong. They came to the ATS and said they did not want to be part of a terror outfit. We arranged jobs for them and today, they are working at big firms,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria. TNN 

 

 

The Times of India, May 13, 2012

Muslims will not be treated unjustly: Maria

DELEGATION MEETS ATS CHIEF

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: State anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Rakesh Maria on Friday assured a delegation of Muslim leaders that the police would not treat members of the community unjustly. 

    The group met Maria to appreciate his efforts in rehabilitating youngsters who crossed the border for terror training but returned with a change of heart. “I am trying to create a better tomorrow. If my department or my men are committing a mistake, let me know so that I can take action,” Maria said. “I also want to dispel the misconception that the Muslim community has about law enforcing agencies.”
 

    Last month, TOI reported on how a youth went to Pakistan for terror training but later surrendered to the ATS after he realized that he did not want to be part of such activities. Following in his footsteps, five others also approached the agency, seeking its help.
 

    “Whenever, there is any festival of non-Muslims, terror alerts are sounded in which Muslims are portrayed as suspects. Photographs are released, sending wrong message about the community. We want these things to stop,” said M A Khalid, an activist. Another activist, Farid Batatawala, said they were happy with the ATS’ work but hoped that the police would not frame innocent Muslims. “Till I am in this office, you will not find injustice,” Maria told the team. 

 

 

The Times of India, May 12, 2012

Five more terror recruits surrender to ATS in city

WELCOME TREND

 

On April 3, TOI had front-paged a story of a Mumbai youth who had a change of heart after undergoing terror training in Pakistan. The ATS helped rehabilitate him. 

 

Were Paid 1L Each To Train In Pakistan

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Five men who received terror training in Pakistan gave themselves up to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) last month after reading about another terror recruit’s change of heart in The Times of India. 

    TOI had front-paged on April 3 the story of a twentysomething terror operative who approached the ATS and confessed to getting terror training in Pakistani militant camps. He told the agency that he had no wish to kill anyone or hurt the country. The MCom graduate was later given a Rs 25,000-a-month job on the police’s recommendation. 

    Following the appearance of the report, five others, all between the ages of 19 and 22, separately turned themselves in to the ATS. Hailing from different parts of Maharashtra, they had travelled to Pakistan in late 2010 and got coaching there for three months in “using firearms, bomb-making, recruiting others, expanding the terror network, and in how to evade the police”. Four of the five, officers said, had travelled as a cell and the last independently. The last youth, thanks to his confessions, is today employed with a computer firm.
 

 

Qaida bomb can cheat airport scanners
    The CIA has foiled an al-Qaida plot to bomb a US-bound plane, unearthing a sophisticated explosive in Yemen that had no metal part. The bomb, which was designed to be worn by a suicide bomber under his clothes, would have been able to escape detection at airports, a major new worry. P 20  

 

Recruits trained at Kasab’s camp
 

    He came to me through a journalist. He narrated his story and told me about the people who brainwashed and arranged his trip abroad,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria. “He broke down and said he had committed a mistake and had no intention to kill anyone. After checking his story, we found that he was feeling guilty and wanted to lead a peaceful life. We arranged a Rs 18,000-a-month job for him in a private company.”
 

    The four others—one a BA student and three BSc undergrads—had a similar rethink. “They told me that they did not want to be a part of any terror outfit since it could ruin their lives and their families,” said Maria.
 

    The ATS chief said he first met the youths outside and asked them to inform their parents. “They later came with their parents. We recorded their statements, took down the details of the things they did at the training camps and assured them of help in reformation.”
 

    Police officers said the youths were paid Rs 1 lakh each to undergo terror training. One of the camps they were sent to is in Muridke, the same place where 26/11 gunman Ajmal Kasab and his associates were allegedly trained. The 26/11 terrorists were reportedly paid Rs 1.50 lakh each to attack Mumbai.
 

    “The five youths were indoctrinated by showing propaganda videos. They said they got taken in and could not differentiate between right and wrong,” said Maria. He added that the ATS is identifying suspected terror trainees with the help of NGOs. “There are boys who are part of sleeper cells. We should neutralize them,” he said. “An important part of this effort is to rid them of the feeling of persecution.”

The Times of India, May 9, 2012

ATS may set up counselling cell

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

    The state ATS is likely to form a counselling cell to help the youths who went for terror training abroad and returned with a change of heart. 

    Six youngsters, including two professionals, have approached the ATS in the past two months saying they did not want to be part of a terror outfit. “We need to counsel such boys who have been indoctrinated and shown wrong path. I have appointed a liaison officer who is in touch with the boys. We are helping them continue their studies. That they realized what they chose was wrong is our success. We are identifying more and more people attached to terror outfits and neutralizing them,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria. He assured only the ATS chief and the liaison officer would know such boys’ identities. An officer added the misguided youngsters needed to be counselled properly.
 

    The ATS is now conducting a deindoctrination programme. “We are trying to deradicalize those on the periphery of a terror network,” said Maria. “We have started working towards a good counselling system, including a de-indoctrination programme, and hope to get results in the next few years.” He added those institaging youngsters to choose the terror path, would not be spared. 

 

 

The Times of India, May 9, 2012

Young terror recruit from city returns to ‘normal’ life

 

 

ATS Sleuths Help ‘Brainwashed’ Grad 

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Rubab Shah (name changed to protect identity) returned from a terror training camp three months ago, fully equipped to create havoc in the country. A few weeks later, however, he developed cold feet and had a change of heart. Unable to confide in 

 
anyone, he went through a month of turmoil before approaching the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
 

    Shah, who says he did not want to kill anyone or get caught for such crimes, admitted everything to the ATS officers and expressed his regret. Today, the 20-something MCom has a job on the recommendation of the police and earns Rs 25,000 a month.
 

    Sources in the ATS say Shah, who studied in Mumbai, was brainwashed to go for a month’s training across the border. “He completed his training in assembling firearms, connecting explosive devices, identifying important locations, mixing explosives and fitting timer devices. He was also taught how to recruit more men and expand the network,” says an officer.  

Our fight is against terror, not terrorists, says Maria
    After Rubab Shah approached the ATS, he was taken to its chief, Rakesh Maria. “We counselled and ‘neutralized’ him. Our fight is against terrorism, not terrorists,” says Maria, who personally questioned Shah.
 

    The ATS is now conducting a de-indoctrination programme for youngsters like Shah. “We are improving our information system and are trying to deradicalize those who are/ were on the periphery of a terror network,” says Maria. “We have begun working towards a good counselling system, which includes a de-indoctrination programme, and hope to get results in the next few years.”
 

    Maria says the ATS is actively identifying potential terror trainees with some help from NGOs. “There are some boys (who are part of sleeper cells) who do not have an active role, but I feel we should neutralize them,” he says. “An important part of this is to eradicate the feelings of persecution that such people invariably harbour. We need to bridge the gap between the police and such communities.”
 

    The ATS is aware of a few people who have been involved in brainwashing youngsters and instigating them into terror training or becoming members of terror modules. Says Maria, “We have made it clear to such people that we know about their activities, and that if they do not stop doing this, they will be booked.”

The Times of India, April 3, 2012