Author: Mateen Hafeez
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 14, 2006
Several youths in Vidarbha and Marathwada,
who allegedly received training in Kashmir and Pakistan, are now under police
scanner.
The crime branch in different districts has
picked up many of these youths for interrogation in connection with Tuesday's
train blasts.
An officer said after their training, the
youths recruit other youngsters to fight for jihad. Deputy inspector-general
of police Jai Jeet Singh confirmed that the youths were being watched, but
refused to comment on the detentions in Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Sources said three youths-Attar Ahmed (21)
from Kolhapur, Fayyaz and Shaikh from Beed-had visited Pakistan for training
in 2005. While Ahmed was killed in an encounter with the Army, his two associates
escaped. Anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief K P Raghuvanshi said there was no
information on the duo.
There have been several cases of youths being
sent across the border for training. For example, Mushiruddin Siddiqui, an
accused in ATS custody, had visited Pakistan for a 22-day training. Another
terrorist, Samad Khan, arrested on June 26, admitted that he had visited Bangladesh.
An ATS official said: "We are now interrogating
those who had received training. They can give information on fellow members
and those who are at large."
Sources in the state intelligence department
(SID) said nearly 30 youths from Vidarbha and Marathwada regions were on their
watch list. Most of them were suspected to be part of sleeper cells, engaged
in running 'Soyyet' classes (the sympathisers of militants).
The sources said training usually took place
in batches of 50 to 60 youths. "We know some who have been trained, but
are yet to be arrested. We are on their trail," an official from SID
said.
Sources said new LeT modules were imparted
training on a par with that given to intelligence agencies. Interestingly,
they also have similar budgets-psycho war funds, operational funds, recruitment
funds, militancy funds.
