Terror case goes through 18 judges, accused in limbo

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: A case of conspiracy—to set the ONGC headquarters, in Bandra, on fire—registered in March 2010 has dragged on, while the fate of two men hangs in balance. Transferred repeatedly, it is at present with the 18th judge at the Bombay City Civil and Sessions court, which has 65 judges.
   

 On March 13, 2010, the ATS arrested Abdul Latif Rashid, now 33, and his brother in-law Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz, now 25, in the case and also said they were planning terrorist activities at Mangaldas Market in Crawford Market, Thakkar Mall in Borivli, a chawl near Thakkar Mall and G7 cinema in Bandra. Charges were framed against the duo on June 23, 2011. Till date, only seven of over 30 witnesses have been examined. Meanwhile, Rashid and Imtiyaz have continued to be in Arthur Road jail.  Rashid used to sell old clothes in Dahisar and Imtiyaz, whose mother sells old clothes, worked as a salesman in Thakkar Mall.

    “The judges are delaying the trial. It’s too much. Why are they not giving us justice?” said Rashid’s father. He has filed an application in the registrar’s office to seek a list of the judges who have heard his son’s case.   “But they are not giving me that list. Everywhere they delay things that affect poor people like us,” he told TOI.
 

COURT TO COURT
    Abdul Latif Rashid and Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz were arrested on March 13, 2010 for
conspiring to set the ONGC headquarters in Bandra on fire
    ATS said duo had bought 10 litres of petrol to set the 10-storey ONGC bldg on fire; they were also planning terrorist activities at Mangaldas Market in Crawford Market and in Borivli and Bandra
    Charges framed against the accused on June 23, 2011
    Among 18 judges, many adhoc, A N Choure heard case for 13 days, S M Modak for 39 days, and S M Bhagat for 20 days. K Itolikar transferred the case the same day it reached his court  

 

Defence demands speedy justice

Mumbai: The conspiracy case against Abdul Latif Rashid and Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz is registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). “Many of the courts the case went to had ad-hoc judges, who do not have powers to conduct trials under the UAPA,” said a source.
 

    One of the judges, A N Choure, heard it for only 13 days (in June 2011) before transferring it. Another judge, A G Bilolikar, heard the case for less than two months (the charges were made in his court). The next judge, S M Modak, heard the case for 39 days. Later, the case went to judge S M Bhagat, who heard it for 20 days before transferring it. On the 13th transfer, the case went to judge K Itolikar’s court (October 20, 2012) and was transferred the same day. The next court heard it for two weeks. The 18th and last judge is U B Hejib, to whom the case reached on November 29.
 

    Defence lawyer Tarique Sayyed said, “We just want a speedy trial so that justice is done.”
 

    IPS officer-tuned-lawyer Y P Singh said that as per precedent, a case must be disposed of at a sessions court in one session, generally comprising three to 10 days. “It is shocking to note that though the accused is in custody, the case has moved around for such a long period of time. It seems that in this case, the criminal justice system has failed to meet its designated objectives,” said Singh.

Abdul

Riyaz 

 

The Times of India, December 16, 2013

ATS men framed me, claims ONGC terror accused

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Abdul Latif Rashid, who, along with Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz, was arrested in March for allegedly planning to set the ONGC headquarters at Bandra on fire, has written to the Mazgaon court that he was tortured and framed in the case by his interrogators.

This allegation against the ATS comes at a time when the squad is already facing criticism
for the arrest of Samad Bhatkal and the Pune blast probe fiasco.

In his two-page letter in Marathi, Rashid said the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had given him a pre-written phone conversation and asked him to repeat the contents to an unknown person. “On the night of March 12, ATS officials met me on the pretext of getting information on my brother in-law, Imtiyaz. They then took me to Dahisar. But on March 14, they told the media that Imtiyaz and I were planning to carry out terror attacks,’’ Rashid said in his letter.

“I was tortured and told that if I did not read out the telephonic conversation, my family members will also be arrested. Following the threat, I was made to speak to someone for two days and the conversation was recorded by the ATS,’’ the letter stated.

Rashid and Imtiyaz were arrested under the various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for attempting to carry out terror strikes at the ONGC headquarters and a theatre in Bandra, a mall in Borivli and Mangaldas Market. While briefing the media, the ATS told them that they did not recover any kind of explosive or IED from the suspects. Instead, the officials said that they wanted to use petrol to set the targeted areas on fire. A copy of the letter is with TOI.

Latif said he was a hawker and sold flowers and clothes. He also pleaded the he should be released on bail, but his petition was rejected.

The ATS had said that the two suspects were instructed by their Pakistani handler, ‘Chacha’, to set the ONGC headquarters on fire before they were called to Pakistan for terror training. ‘Chacha’ is a suspect in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, Bashir Khan. The ATS claimed to have got the recorded conversation between ‘Chacha’ and the two suspects.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria was not available for comment.

‘PHONEY’ CLAIM
In his two-page letter in Marathi to the Mazgaon court, Abdul Latif Rashid said officials of the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had given him a pre-written phone conversation and asked him to repeat the contents to an unknown person. He claimed that he was tortured and told that if he did not read out the conversation, his family members would also be arrested.

The Times of India, June 21, 2010

ONGC terror suspect’s boss may reveal D-link

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: The ATS suspects that the employer of Abdul Latif, one of the two suspects caught in March for allegedly planning to set the ONGC headquarters on fire, was also connected to the Pakistanbased underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The investigators had been insisting that there was no other link in the case that could help them prove Latif’s direct link with D-gang member, Bashir Khan, who had escaped to Pakistan in 1993 after the serial bomb blasts.Bashir Khan is suspected to be the ‘Uncle’ or Pakistani handler of Latif.

“We will make Latif ’s employer a prosecution witness. We have got information that he was also connected to the D-gang in the past,’’ said an officer.

Latif, who worked in Mangaldas Market near Crawford Market, was arrested on March 13 along with his brotherin-law Riyaz Shaikh for planning terror strikes at five places in the city. The police were tightlipped when asked if Latif ’s employer was aware about Latif’s telephonic conversation with ‘Uncle’.

The two were assigned the task to set the ONGC office on fire and they had done a recce of the place and befriended an ONGC employee for the purpose. They have been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Police alleged that Latif and Riyaz had purchased 10 litres petrol for the operation. “The suspects were instructed to set the headquarters on fire and commit terrorist activity at Mangaldas Market, Borivli’s Thakkar Mall, G7 cinemaplex in Bandra and a chawl near Thakkar Mall,’’ an official said.

The Times of India, April 8, 2010

Duo planning ONGC fire had purchased 10 litres of petrol

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: The two suspects, who were allegedly planning to set the ONGC’s Bandra headquarters on fire, had purchased 10 litres petrol which was to be used in the terror operation.

Abdul Latif (29) and Riyaz Imtiyaz (22), who are Bandra and Dahisar residents respectively, were arrested by the ATS on March 14. Sources said that 10 litres of petrol, which the accused had hidden somewhere, was seized a few days after their arrest. However, sources were tightlipped when asked from where the recovery was made.

The two suspects were assigned the task to set the ONGC office on fire and they had done a recce of the place and even befriended an ONGC employee for the purpose. They have been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“The suspects were instructed by their Pakistani handler, one ‘Uncle’, to set the ONGC headquarters on fire and commit terrorist activity at Mangaldas Market in south Mumbai, Borivli’s Thakkar Mall, the G7 cinemaplex in Bandra (W) and a chawl near Thakkar Mall,’’ an official said.

“The accused had surveyed the G7 multiplex when they had gone to watch movies there,’’ an official said. ‘Uncle’, who is suspected to be Bashir Khan, a fugitive accused in the 1993 serial blasts, had reportedly promised to train the duo in operating firearms. The two accused have been remanded to police custody till April 1.

The Times of India, March 30, 2010

Duo planning ONGC fire had purchased 10 litres of petrol

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: The two suspects, who were allegedly planning to set the ONGC’s Bandra headquarters on fire, had purchased 10 litres petrol which was to be used in the terror operation.

Abdul Latif (29) and Riyaz Imtiyaz (22), who are Bandra and Dahisar residents respectively, were arrested by the ATS on March 14. Sources said that 10 litres of petrol, which the accused had hidden somewhere, was seized a few days after their arrest. However, sources were tightlipped when asked from where the recovery was made.

The two suspects were assigned the task to set the ONGC office on fire and they had done a recce of the place and even befriended an ONGC employee for the purpose. They have been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“The suspects were instructed by their Pakistani handler, one ‘Uncle’, to set the ONGC headquarters on fire and commit terrorist activity at Mangaldas Market in south Mumbai, Borivli’s Thakkar Mall, the G7 cinemaplex in Bandra (W) and a chawl near Thakkar Mall,’’ an official said.

“The accused had surveyed the G7 multiplex when they had gone to watch movies there,’’ an official said. ‘Uncle’, who is suspected to be Bashir Khan, a fugitive accused in the 1993 serial blasts, had reportedly promised to train the duo in operating firearms. The two accused have been remanded to police custody till April 1.

The Times of India, March 30, 2010

‘Terror duo had set sights on Bandra theatre’

The accused — Abdul Latif and Riyas Ali Imtiyaz — were produced before the Mazgaon court on Friday

POLICE CUSTODY EXTENDED TILL APR 11

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Investigations into the arrest of two suspects, who were allegedly planning to set the ONGC’s Bandra headquarters on fire, revealed they were also planning a terror strike at two more places, including Bandra’s G7 cinema complex, officials told TOI on Friday.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two suspects, Abdul Latif (29) and Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz (22), who are Bandra and Dahisar residents, respectively, on March 14. They were produced before the Mazgaon court on Friday and their police custody was extended till April 1. They have been booked under the various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

“The suspects were instructed by their Pakistani handler, one ‘Uncle’, to set the ONGC headquarters on fire and commit terrorist activity at Mangaldas Market in south Mumbai, Borivli’s Thakkar Mall, the G7 cinemaplex in Bandra (West) and a chawl near Thakkar Mall,’’ an official said. G7 houses seven cinema halls with an approximate sitting capacity of 2,000 people. “The accused had gone to watch movies and they surveyed the multiplex. We are still in the process of interrogation,’’ an official said.

The remand application on Friday stated that the ATS wanted the duo’s custody to ascertain how many more persons were to go to Pakistan for training. The two suspects were a l l e g e d ly promised a training in o p e at i n g firearms by the Indian fugitive, “Uncle’’, who is suspected to be a 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast absconding accused, Bashir Khan. The police have got the recorded conversation between “Uncle’’ and the two suspects. They were allegedly talking to “Uncle’’ for the last twoand-a-half months.

The duo were directed by the handler to recruit young boys and arrange for them to be sent to Pakistan for training and to carry out terror attacks in India. Magistrate B S Chavan remanded the two to further police custody till April 1.
mateen.hafeez@timesgroup.com

The Times of India, March 27, 2010

New terror tactics make tracking suspects harder

ON THE INSIDE: Riyaz Ali Imtiaz, one of the men arrested for plotting attacks in the city, worked at Thakkar Mall, one of the terror targets

Focus Is On Youths Most Likely To Be Overlooked By Police

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The new strategies being used by terror bosses across the border have the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai police worried, because tracking local suspects is becoming harder.

One of the new modus operandi appears to be using people who have never before travelled to Pakistan or the Middle East. The latest arrests—Abdul Latif Rashid, 29, and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz, 23—were allegedly told that they would be taken to Pakistan after they committed acts of terror in Mumbai.

Another strategy appears to involve enlisting people already employed at targeted locations, so that getting past security becomes easier. While Latif worked in the vicinity of Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi, one of the alleged targets, Riyaz worked at Thakkar Mall in Borivli, another target. The duo had also allegedly wanted to access the ONGC headquarters at Bandra (East) with the help of a Class IV worker employed there.

Latif and his brother-in-law Riyaz were held by the ATS on March 13 for conspiring to set fires at sites across the city. “Latif was working near Mangaldas Market and Riyaz was working at Thakkar Mall. The duo had also wanted to take the help of an ONGC employee to enter the firm’s premises. The handlers are now focussing on people who have easy access to targeted locations,’’ said an officer.

Not long ago, any terror probe would start with cops swooping down on people with a history of travelling to Pakistan or the Middle East, especially Dubai. Now, things are not so easy. “The handlers are looking at youths who have not travelled to any country and don’t have a police record. Our job is getting more difficult,’’ said the officer.

Sources in the security establishment said that the police are struggling to contact the grassroots of terror modules. “In this case, the men arrested did not have any prior criminal record. The other six who were offered training in Pakistan also did not have a record,’’ said the officer.

Officers are banking on help from youths who decline terror jobs and offers to travel to Pakistan. In the present case, two such youths have already given statements to the police. “We were lucky that one of these boys approached a police contact and alerted us about the plan,’’ said an officer.

The police also cannot afford to alienate an entire community by detaining people at will. An officer said, “We don’t know whom to put under surveillance. We cannot just summon hundreds of people for questioning. We have decided that we will convince youths not to take up extremism, but to help us. It is most important that the police reach such youths beforehand and ask them to be moderate.’’

An officer involved in the investigation said, “The handlers had sent money to make passports and lured Latif by saying he would be paid Rs 5 lakh for five youths. They had also spoken about the route the youths would take to Pakistan. They would first fly to Dubai.”

Recruiting Strategy:
Terror bosses approach men who have never before been to Pakistan or the Middle East

They enlist men already working in targeted locations, so they can get past security easily

They recruit youths without prior police records

They recruit men from poor backgrounds who can be easily lured with promises of money

The Times of India, March 22, 2010

New terror tactics make tracking suspects harder

Focus Is On Youths Most Likely To Be Overlooked By Police

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The new strategies being used by terror bosses across the border have the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai police worried, because tracking local suspects is becoming harder.

One of the new modus operandi appears to be using people who have never before travelled to Pakistan or the Middle East. The latest arrests—Abdul Latif Rashid, 29, and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz, 23—were allegedly told that they would be taken to Pakistan after they committed acts of terror in Mumbai.

Another strategy appears to involve enlisting people already employed at targeted locations, so that getting past security becomes easier. While Latif worked in the vicinity of Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi, one of the alleged targets, Riyaz worked at Thakkar Mall in Borivli, another target. The duo had also allegedly wanted to access the ONGC headquarters at Bandra (East) with the help of a Class IV worker employed there.

Latif and his brother-in-law Riyaz were held by the ATS on March 13 for conspiring to set fires at sites across the city. “Latif was working near Mangaldas Market and Riyaz was working at Thakkar Mall. The duo had also wanted to take the help of an ONGC employee to enter the firm’s premises. The handlers are now focussing on people who have easy access to targeted locations,’’ said an officer.

Not long ago, any terror probe would start with cops swooping down on people with a history of travelling to Pakistan or the Middle East, especially Dubai. Now, things are not so easy. “The handlers are looking at youths who have not travelled to any country and don’t have a police record. Our job is getting more difficult,’’ said the officer.

Sources in the security establishment said that the police are struggling to contact the grassroots of terror modules. “In this case, the men arrested did not have any prior criminal record. The other six who were offered training in Pakistan also did not have a record,’’ said the officer.

Officers are banking on help from youths who decline terror jobs and offers to travel to Pakistan. In the present case, two such youths have already given statements to the police. “We were lucky that one of these boys approached a police contact and alerted us about the plan,’’ said an officer.

The police also cannot afford to alienate an entire community by detaining people at will. An officer said, “We don’t know whom to put under surveillance. We cannot just summon hundreds of people for questioning. We have decided that we will convince youths not to take up extremism, but to help us. It is most important that the police reach such youths beforehand and ask them to be moderate.’’

An officer involved in the investigation said, “The handlers had sent money to make passports and lured Latif by saying he would be paid Rs 5 lakh for five youths. They had also spoken about the route the youths would take to Pakistan. They would first fly to Dubai.”

Recruiting Strategy:
Terror bosses approach men who have never before been to Pakistan or the Middle East

They enlist men already working in targeted locations, so they can get past security easily

They recruit youths without prior police records

They recruit men from poor backgrounds who can be easily lured with promises of money

The Times of India, March 22, 2010

Terror duo was promised ‘promotions’

IN COP NET: Abdul Latif and Riyaz Shaikh were arrested on March 13

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Investigations into the arrest of two Mumbai youths, who were arrested for allegedly planning terror strikes at three places, have revealed that they were promised by their Pakistani handlers they would be promoted as “recruiting chiefs’’ once they executed an operation successfully and completed their training.
The ATS on March 13 arrested two persons, Abdul Latif (29) and Riyaz Shaikh (23), for allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes at the ONGC headquarters in Bandra, Thakkar Mall in Borivli and Mangaldas Market. The duo will be in police custody till March 26. The two, claimed police, had also identified some youths to send to Pakistan.

“The suspects were asked to execute only one operation and were to leave for Pakistan via Dubai. They were also told that they will be promoted as recruiting chief and will not have to do a ‘field job’ once they complete their training,’’ sources in the security forces said.

The Pakistani handlers had also promised the suspects a remuneration of Rs 1 lakh for getting each recruit. “They were told that their job will be limited to coordinate with their mentors, identifying boys, making all the arrangements for new recruits’ trip to Pakistan and later taking care of their activities,’’ a source said.

Initially, it was said that the two had procured their passports. However, families of the suspects said that the passport applications of the duo were rejected. “They were sent Rs 10,000 via hawala to prepare passports through the tatkal scheme,’’ a source said.

Latif ’s family admitted that Bashir Khan, who is Latif ’s distant relative, started speaking to the former six months ago. However, the family members said they were unware of what the converstions were about. “He worked for Rs 200 a day. It was difficult for him to run his own family. Why would he indulge in such an activity?’’ asked Abdur Rasheed, Latif ’s father.

The Times of India, March 20, 2010

‘Goa blast may have motivated nabbed duo’

LONG WAIT: Relatives of Latif and Riyaz outside the court

ONGC, MALL TERROR PLOT

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: The two persons caught on March 13 for allegedly planning to set the ONGC headquarters on fire could have been motivated by their Pakistani handlers who would have referred to the Goa blast, where the involvement of Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha is suspected.

According to a security agency source, the two suspects could have been brainwashed by instilling fear in them of right-wing organisations becoming stronger.

The suspects, Abdul Latif Rashid alias Guddu (29) and his brother-in-law Riyaz Ali Imtiyaz alias Rehan (23), were produced in a Mazgaon court on Thursday when they were remanded in police custody till March 26. They were charged under the UAPA for planning a terror strike on the ONGC headquarters in Bandra, Mangaldas market near Crawford Market and Thakkar Mall in Borivli. The police suspect that the two were targeting two other areas in the city but refused to divulge more.

While seeking their custody, the police said they wanted to establish the identity of a person referred to as “chacha” in phone conversations. “Chacha” spoke to them from Pakistan. According to the security agency source, the police have the records of an over 120-minute conversation between the two suspects and the uncle. “They had been speaking to uncle for six months,’’ said the source. The uncle is suspected to be one Bashir Khan, an absconder in the 1993 blasts case, and now staying in Karachi.

Security personnel said that the two may have been lured to terrorist activities by the promise of easy money. However, initially they could also have been motivated by repeated references to the Goa blast that claimed four lives. ATS officials were tight-lipped about the probe.

On Thursday, Latif and Riyaz’s families waited to meet them outside the ATS Kalachowki unit but they were not allowed to do so. They finally left around 4.30 pm when Latif’s wife, Nusrat, fainted.

The Times of India, March 19, 2010

Info gap saved day for ONGC

MAKING A POINT: A delegation of Muslim leaders met ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi and expressed a desire to meet the suspects

Duo Couldn’t Understand Instructions

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Miscommunication between the arrested terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan probably saved the city from another bloodbath. Investigations have revealed that the arrested suspects——Abdul Latif Rashid alias Guddu (29) and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz alias Rehan (22)—failed to carry out the attack on the ONGC headquarters as they couldn’t comprehend the instructions issued by their Pakistani handlers.

The telephonic conversations recorded by the security agencies show that the Pakistani “Uncle’’ had been instigating the duo to set the ONGC’s office on fire, but the two didn’t know how to carry the fuel needed for the operation inside the building.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad on Wednesday recorded the statements of a shop owner from Mangaldas Market,where Latif had been working for the last eight months. But not too many significant details came out of it. The employer described Latif as a “hard-working” man and said that he paid Latif Rs 4,000 a month.

The ATS said that Latif, along with his brother in-law Riyaz Ali alias Rehan, wanted to carry out terror attacks at three places: Mangaldas Market, ONGC headquarters and Thakkar Mall in Borivli, where Riyaz worked.

The police have also grilled Latif to find out if he had done a recce of the Mumbai Police headquarters, which is located opposite to the Mangaldas Market. This place was earlier visited by arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba suspect Faheem Ansari three years ago. The ATS has not yet given clean chit to the ONGC employee whom the duo had befriended and wanted to execute the operation.

‘We want to meet the duo’
A delegation comprising Muslim community leaders met ATS chief Krish Pal Raghuvanshi on Wednesday and expressed their wish to meet the two suspects.

Farid Batatawala of Muslim Front stated that the intention of this meeting was to clarify facts. “We do not support any culprit. But, if these boys are innocent, they should be released,’’ he said. Raghuvanshi said that the ATS was working in the right direction and that they had not arrested any innocent person. “We will show the evidence in the court. No innocent will be arrested,’’ he said.

The Times of India, March 18, 2010

Pak again using mafia links for terror strikes

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Saturday’s arrests of the two terror suspects in Mumbai who wanted to set fires at three locations across the city shows that Pakistani planners are now returning to their old ally, the underworld, to plot terrorist acts.

In the recent case, Abdul Latif Rashid alias Guddu, 29, and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz alias Rehan, 22, were arrested for conspiring to set fires at the ONGC office in Bandra (East), Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi and Thakkar Mall in Borivli. Latif ’s uncle, Abdul Bashir Khan, is an absconding accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, which was plotted and executed by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is now living in Karachi. Khan is currently living with Dawood in the latter’s Karachi flat and works as his assistant.

The security establishment in India has been claiming that the D-gang is handin-glove with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the execution of conspiracies in India.

In the 11/7 Mumbai train blasts case, the police arrested a doctor, two engineers and a software programmer who did not have any prior criminal record. However, the recent case points to the in-depth involvement of the D-gang. “The two accused were in touch with a D-gang member who had asked them to identify youths for terror training in Pakistan,’’ said the source.

The Pak call
After picking up Abdul Latif Rashid and Riyaz Imtiaz Ali over the weekend, ATS officials found a Pakistani number in their cellphone. Cops found it suspicious that the men who live in slums would have a Pakistani number. The police then asked Latif and Riyaz to call the number and were able to verify that the duo was in touch with someone in Pakistan.

P 5 Have cops delinked mafia from terror?
Mumbai: Officials in the security forces said Pakistan’s terror bosses may have returned to the underworld because the police have mentally delinked the underworld from terror. “The police seem to have formed an opinion that gangsterism is entirely different from terrorism and they do not pay heed to gangsters when it comes to probing terror cases nowadays. This could be one of the reasons why the Pakistani terror handlers are focusing on the use of the underworld,’’ the security source said.

“In 1993, the underworld had first participated in a terror strike. Later, the modus operandi changed and the handlers started recruiting young people with no criminal records as the underworld was already on the police list,’’ said a security establishment official.

In the 2001 Parliament attack, new faces who were neither in the police list nor connected to the underworld were recruited. In the post-2001 modus operandi, the use of educated youths from the Muslim community was seen.

Software engineer Mansoor Peerbhoy, a Pune resident, who had a job with a Rs 19-lakh-ayear salary, was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch in 2008 for being part of the Indian Mujahideen. He was accused of sending terror emails.

Earlier, in a string of post-2001 terror-related cases in Mumbai, an MBBS, an MBA, three civil engineers, four mechanical engineers, two chemical engineers, a pilot and a professor working for the NDA, Pune, had been arrested. While the police had focused on these men, most of them were later acquitted by the court or discharged by the central Pota review committee. Absconding IM operative, Riyaz Bhatkal, also suspected to be in Pakistan, was connected to the Fazlur Rehman gang before he formed his own extortion outfit. Bhatkal later took to terrorism.

The Times of India, March 17, 2010

Pak number found in terror suspects’ phone

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) official has revealed that police established a connection between the two Mumbai men recently arrested for plotting terror and a Pakistani contact by making the duo call a number found in a cell phone they were using.
After the police picked up Abdul Latif Rashid alias Guddu, 29, and Riyaz Imtiaz Ali alias Rehan, 22, over the weekend, they went through the phone and found the number which appeared Pakistani. The ATS official said that the cops found it suspicious that two men who lived in slums would have a Pakistani number in their phone.

The police then asked Latif and Riyaz to call the number and were able to verify that the duo were in touch with someone in Pakistan. However, the ATS official, with his department already under fire from central agencies for leaking information, refused to divulge information about the content of the conversation between the duo and the Pakistani contact.

The suspects, police have alleged, were in touch with a 1993 serial blasts absconder, Abdul Bashir Khan. It is believed that Khan, who is Latif’s uncle, instructed them to commit acts of terror and then visit Pakistan for training. “The suspects wanted to go to Pakistan so that they could earn some money as well. They were promised a ‘stipend’ for undertaking the training, but we are yet to establish the exact amount,’’ an officer said.
Fire & Explosions?
Interrogations have revealed that the duo had planned to start a fire in the room at the Bandra (East) ONGC headquarters which contained the electric meters and fuseboxes.

“The room has a lot of electricity meters and a fire could have even caused explosions. However, the suspects were yet to take a decision on how to execute their plan,’’ said a senior ATS official. The accused did not have a blueprint of the building nor any idea of which fuel to use. “They were arrested on March 13, two days prior to the date they had to execute the plan. We arrested them in a hurry to stop them causing any damage,’’ said the officer. Latif and Riyaz, brothers-in-law from Bandra (East) and Dahisar, respectively, are accused of plotting terror strikes at the ONGC administrative office, Thakkar Mall in Borivili and Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi.

Meanwhile, the ATS is still questioning Bandra resident Shahnawaz Shaikh, who is also a suspect in the case. Shaikh was detained by the ATS on Saturday. The police are recording the statements of three men who were asked to prepare passports to go to Pakistan via Dubai. Four teams have been formed to trace down suspects.

Centre for action against ‘erring’ ATS men
New Delhi: A day after pulling up Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for revealing too much on the busted terror module, the Centre asked the state government to identify and initiate action against the “erring” officials for going public with evidence of the cross-border terror links of the two arrested terrorists. Sources in the home ministry said on Tuesday that the state has been told how the trail to the Pakistani handler—identified as ‘Uncle’ in phone intercepts—went cold as soon as the ATS gave details of its operation. The state has been asked to ensure that action is taken against officials so that such incidents can be avoided in future, added the source. TNN

The Times of India, March 16, 2010

1993 absconder may be ‘Chacha’ in Pak

HOMING IN FOR ANSWERS: The lane to Haji Chawl in Behrampada, Bandra (East), where Abdul Latif Rashid resides

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Investigators are busy trying to unravel the identity of the mysterious ‘Chacha’ in Pakistan who the arrested duo, Abdul Latif Rashid and Riyaz Imtiaz Ali, allegedly received instructions from via the phone.

While sources in the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) say the finger of suspicion points to Abdul Bashir Khan, an absconder in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case who is believed to be holed up in Pakistan, sources in the security establishment say the possibility of ‘Chacha’ being the trainer of the 26/11 terrorists, as revealed by gunman Ajmal Kasab, has not been ruled out.

Khan is the maternal uncle of Latif. He fled to Pakistan after the 1993 blasts and is believed to be staying with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at the latter’s bungalow while working as the don’s assistant. ‘Chacha’ had promised the two arrested men a meeting with Dawood, said ATS officials.

“Khan fled the country after the police started arresting suspects in the 1993 serial blasts case,’’ said a Mumbai crime branch officer.

The ATS, has mentioned ‘Uncle’ in the remand application as being the instructor of the two arrested Mumbai men. “Uncle instigated the suspects to come to Pakistan and commit some terrorist activity before they leave India,’’ reads the remand application.

“Latif would try to impress people in his locality by saying that he could talk to Dawood Ibrahim and meet him anytime he wanted,’’ said the officer.

The Times of India, March 16, 2010

Terror averted in city in the nick of time

CITY ON ALERT:
(Top left) Policemen on guard at Thakkar Mall in Borivli (West), where the arrested Riyaz Imtiaz worked and which police said was a terror target. (Above) A bag being searched at Thakkar Mall. (Left) Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi, where the arrested Abdul Latif worked, was also a target.

Arrested Duo Planned To Set Fire At ONGC Headquarters In Bandra By Entering With The Help Of A Staffer, Say Anti-Terror Cops

Mateen Hafeez and S Ahmed Ali | TNN

Aterror strike appears to have been averted in the city in the nick of time. The two terror suspects arrested over the weekend planned to set fire to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) office at Bandra (East) on Monday, according to state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials.

Abdul Latif Rashid alias Guddu, 29, a resident of Haji Chawl, Behrampada, Bandra (East), and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz alias Rehan, 23, a resident of Koyla Bhavan Chawl, Ratan Nagar, Dahisar, planned to enter the ONGC premises, known as Vasudhara Bhavan, with the help of an ONGC Class IV employee, said ATS officials.

When asked how they intended to set fire to the building, the ATS said they were still interrogating the two brothers-inlaw. Sources said they were held while going to a petrol pump to arrange for fuel. The police are issuing a warning to all pumps not to sell loose fuel to any customers, especially those who don’t have vehicles, and to inform the authorities of anyone trying to buy such fuel.

Senior officials were tightlipped about the identity of the ONGC employee, but plan to make him a witness for the prosecution. “The two suspects befriended him and wanted to get some support from him. We are questioning him, but it’s too difficult to say at this stage whether he was part of the conspiracy or unaware of the plot,’’ an ATS officer said.

According to the remand application, attacks were planned on ONGC, Thakkar Mall in Borivli, where Riyaz worked, and Mangaldas Market in Kalbadevi, where Latif worked. Gujarati Chawl, near the Borivli mall, was also targeted. Cops said fire was to be set at these places before the suspects went to Pakistan.

PAKISTAN TRIP
Latif had allegedly asked six men, aside from himself and Riyaz, to apply for passports and go to Pakistan free of cost for terror training. Two of those youths refused to go, saying the plot was anti-national. “One of those two youths told a police informant about the plot and we put all the eight under surveillance,’’ said the officer. Both youths who refused to go to Pakistan have been questioned by the police.

Of the other four, two have been questioned and two cannot be found. While some sources said the four who applied for passports may be arrested soon, other sources said the ATS is looking for as many as 10 associates of the arrested duo.

Police said the arrested duo had befriended an ONGC employee over the period of a month. “The duo wanted to set the ONGC headquarters, Vasudhara Bhavan in Bandra, on fire, and not oil tanks,’’ said a senior ATS officer. No maps, firearms or petrol was recovered from the suspects.

16 PHONE CALLS
Latif was in touch with a certain ‘Chacha’ in Karachi. “Latif’s maternal uncle is an absconding accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts,” said an ATS official. But it is not known conclusively if ‘Chacha’ and Latif’s uncle are the same person. The ATS official said, “Chacha had asked Latif to go to Pakistan and sent Rs 10,000 to help him get a passport through tatkal.”

Latif’s and Riyaz’s passports have been seized by the police. “More than 16 calls were made and received by the duo to a Pakistani number. Their phones will be sent for analyses,’’ said the ATS source. The police are looking for the hawala operator through whom the money was sent to Latif.

“Latif, who loved going to the gym, was also known as a bodybuilder in his locality. He was promised Rs 5 lakh for sending five boys to Pakistan for training,’’ said another officer, adding that Latif ’s basic motive was money. “He never raised any voice for jihad or complained about violence against Muslims. He just wanted to earn quick money,’’ said the ATS source.

Sources said the ATS had also received specific information from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). “As soon as the media flashed the news, some others in the plot got scared, switched their phones off and went underground,’’ said a source.

The ATS has asked the Trombay police to look for two men in the Cheetah Camp area, which is a few kilometres from the sensitive Baba Atomic Research Centre. The ATS has also asked the Gujarat police to look for men missing from villages near Surat and other places in the state.

Mangaldas Market and Thakkar Mall are frequented by Gujarati people. “The accused were planning to carry out a major fire in Thakkar Mall through Gujarati Chawl, which is situated next-door. “During interrogations, they revealed their plan was to pour fuel near the electric box and near the lift to cause a huge fire and panic among the shoppers,’’ said an officer. “The ‘Chahcha’ had assured all financial assistance and shelter in Pakistan, provided they successfully executed the plot,’’ added the officer.

The ONGC headquarters in Bandra (East), where the accused wanted to start a fire on Monday

The Times of India, March 16, 2010

ONGC terror date was set for Monday

Mateen Hafeez & S Ahmed Ali | TNN

Mumbai: The two men arrested on Saturday for plotting terror in Mumbai had planned to set fire to the ONGC HQ in Bandra (East) on Monday (March 15) by entering the premises with the help of a Class IV ONGC employee, said ATS officials. It is not known if the employee was part of the conspiracy.

The police have also questioned four other men, two of whom allegedly agreed to go to Pakistan for terror training. Another two men who planned to make the trip are missing.

Abdul Latif Rashid, 29, of Bandra, and Riyaz Ali Imtiaz, 23, of Dahisar, were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sent to police custody till March 18.

The Times of India, March 16, 2010