The Hindu : Terror groups outsmarting cops?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Terror groups outsmarting cops?

By Marri Ramu

HYDERABAD Sept. 2. The startling revelation of Akshardham temple attackers holding a meeting in the city and the connection of a local person with the recent Mumbai blasts have brought into sharp focus the preparedness of the State Police Department to tackle such terrorist groups.

Formation of special wings like `Counter Intelligence' notwithstanding, many recent incidents proved beyond doubt that religion-based terrorist groups have been managing to hoodwink the police even while using Hyderabad as a `shelter' zone.

Though the activities of Pak.-based fundamentalist organisations orchestrating violence with the active support of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are not new to the State, the number has increased in the post-Babri Masjid demolition period.

Notable among such groups is the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). "The acquittal of a majority of the accused in connection with the seizure of six kg of RDX and short weapons from LeT activists in 1999 was a big setback to us,'' observe senior police officers.

The first major operation of LeT was reported in 1999 when the police picked up Salim Junaid, who is allegedly LeT resident agent, after an alert from the Intelligence Bureau. A Pakistan national, Junaid came here married a local girl. He along with two other Pak nationals and 15 others were arrested following seizure of RDX and weapons at a farmhouse in Maheswaram of Ranga Reddy district.

While Junaid was sent to Tihar jail pending trial of other cases, a majority of the 15 accused were acquitted. However, two Pak nationals -- Mansoor and Hakeem -- who came down with the deadly RDX, were convicted.

``After the arrests, the investigating agencies concerned did not seem to have focussed much on securing convictions. The danger was realised only when LeT activities surfaced again,'' police officials point out.

It is still not clear if the `Counter Intelligence' team is keeping track of local agents recruited by Junaid and their operations, if any. The case of Asghar Ali, accused in the murder of the former Gujarat Home Minister, Haren Pandya, is a classic case of oversight.

Before he got involved in the killing, Ali, believed to be a sympathiser of LeT, was arrested four times. He, however, managed to get bail. Five of his associates trained in Pakistan are incidentally yet to be traced!

Another group of LeT sympathisers, led by Abdul Aziz, who allegedly went to Bosnia and Chechenya to take part in `jehadi' war there, was caught with arms and ammunition a few years ago. Later, he and his associate, Nissar, a suspended constable, have disappeared.

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