Author:
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: May 23, 2001
The Delhi Police has for the first
time exposed an underworld-terrorist nexus in the country with the arrest
of a member of the Chhota Shakeel gang and two Pakistan-based Jammu and
Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF) terrorists on charges of conspiring to cause
blasts in the capital, Mumbai and Punjab and 'eliminating' members of the
Sangh Parivar.
Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj
Sharma told reporters that the police have also seized a huge quantity
of explosives that include two kg of PETN, two radio-based detonating devices,
two detonators, two nine-volt batteries, six 1.5 volt pencil cells and
one digital Kenwood wireless set. Three mobile phone sets and a Maruti
car were also seized from the three terrorists.
The Kenwood wireless set in a sophisticated
device capable of blowing off four bombs in one go from anywhere within
a 1.5 km radius, Mr Sharma said. The consignment seized from the terrorists
which changing hands in the parking area of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in New
Delhi yesterday was to cause series of explosions in Mumbai.
The three militants arrested by
the special cell of the Delhi Police at around 2030 hrs last night have
been identified as Gurvinder Jeet Singh Bhullar alias Tinku (21) who is
working for Chhota Shakeel gang and JKIF militants Mohammad Asgar alias
Ayub alias Pappu (38) and Abdul Jabbar.
The JKIF is headed by notorious
terrorist Bilal Ahmed Beg, based in Islamabad. The outfit is already responsible
for three blasts in the capital - at Lajpat Nagar, Connaught Place and
Sadar Bazaar.
The police chief said Bhullar was
tasked to set up a base in Punjab and induct recruits for running Chhota
Shakeel's operation in India. He had already motivated two youths to join
the Shakeel gang after paying Rs 40,000 each. Bhullar was also told to
identify certain BJP, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal men in Punjab and Delhi
who were active in increasing their party's support base.
So far the terrorist had only been
successful in identifying one Shiv Sena man in Tarn Taran in Punjab, Mr
Sharma said while categorically ruling out the gang identifying any BJP
men. He said, "no specific BJP leader identified. They were caught before
they could made a hideout."
The blasts in Mumbai were planned
by Chhota Shakeel in collusion with Bilal Ahmed Beg.
In an indirect reference to the
general law and order situation in the capital, the police chief said,
"we are facing an uphill taks because a lot of attempt is being made to
cause blast in the capital. We are working overtime and due to our alertness
we could catch the gang and avoid major destruction in Mumbai."
About the threat perception and
security scenario in the capital, the Commissioner said, "we get information
every second day (about possible terrorist attack and that's how we are
nabbing these terrorists. When we fail, a blast takes place."
He said police had received information
about the visit of the terrorists in the capital and had sought the assistance
of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Bhullar's brother Gurpreet alias
Micky is a close associate of Chhota Shakeel who is based in Bangkok.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special
Cell) Ashok Chand, meanwhile, said Bhullar was sent by Chhota Shakeel last
year to set up a base in Punjab and make recruits to targets members of
Sangh Pariwar in the State and Delhi. To carry out his operations, he was
getting supplies from Pakistan through JKIF.
The current consignment was meant
to cause blasts in the commercial Capital. Police are now on the look out
for the local contacts of the terrorists in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police has
been informed about the gameplan. (UNI)
