Author: J Khan in Bombay
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: October 24, 2001
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/oct/24thane.htm
Four militants belonging to the
Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested in a pre-dawn operation
on Wednesday in Mumbra in neighbouring Thane district.
A special team of Thane police led
by Commissioner Surendra Mohan Shangari stormed the terrorists' hideout
at Vafa Park, Millat Compound, Mumbra and nabbed the four extremists. Two
imported weapons and 26 cartridges were seized from them.
"Their interrogation will lead us
to more weapons and explosives. We have also seized some Islamic literature,
a Bombay guide book, binoculars, cameras and mobile phones from them,"
Shangari told rediff.com.
The arrested militants have been
identified as Javed Mohammed Akbar Bhat alias Java (23), Farooq Siddiqui
Bhat (23), Altaf Hussain Moiddun Bhat (19) and Farooq Ramzan Chupan alias
Sami (28).
"They are all active members of
Hizbul Mujahideen and had planned to cause disturbances in Bombay and Thane,"
another senior officer said.
While Javed and Altaf have been
in Mumbra for over two years now, Farooq Chupan joined them only six months
back and Farooq Bhat arrived last fortnight.
The police team involved in the
operation included police inspectors Datta Ghule and Ravindra Angre, assistant
police inspectors Venkatesh Patil and Janardhan Thorat and police sub-inspectors
Hitendra Vichare and Khotmire.
