The Hindu : Front Page : Terrorist killed in Mumbai

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Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006

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Terrorist killed in Mumbai

Special Correspondent

Associate arrested during midnight checking in Wadala

MUMBAI: The Anti -Terrorist Squad (ATS) killed a suspected terrorist in a shootout at Antop Hill in central Mumbai early on Tuesday. Another man, found moving around in a Maruti van with a pistol and ammunition, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Both are believed to be Pakistani nationals.

At a press conference, Mumbai Police Commissioner A.N. Roy said that an ATS team, carrying out searches in the Wadala truck terminus area, stopped the Maruti van just after midnight. A search of the vehicle unearthed a Star pistol, five live rounds, five detonators, timers, and one-and-a-half kg of explosives. Though the van had a Gujarat number plate, two other plates were found inside.

The driver told the police that his name was Mohammed Riyaz Nawabuddin and that he was 21 years old. He had Rs.1,450 and $50 with him.

Mr. Roy said Nawabuddin gave his address as 4WB, Machchiwal, Vehari district, Pakistan.

At around 4 a.m., he led the police to the Central Government Colony at Antop Hill, where his associate was holed up on the third floor of a dilapidated building. On seeing the ATS team, the man fired at them from an AK-47. In the exchange of fire, he was killed but by then he had fired 18 rounds. The police seized the gun and 72 rounds.

Nawabuddin identified his associate as Mohammed Ali alias Abu Osama, son of Mohammed Chirag, a resident of Charchak in Faisalabad, Pakistan. A pocket diary with telephone numbers, receipts of phone calls made to Bangladesh, three maps and a railway timetable were recovered from the dead man.

Nawabuddin said he had come to Mumbai a few days ago. The police are trying to verify where he lived and his movements.

Mr. Roy said it was not possible to say if the duo was part of a terrorist module. Ever since the July 11 blasts, there had been repeated alerts of a terrorist strike, and the police had stepped up security.

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