Maha ATS makes another arrest in terror plot case

MUMBAI : The Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad (ATS), which is investigating the recent seizure of explosives and arms from across the state, arrested one more person from Ghatkopar on late Friday night in connection with the terror plot. Avinash Pawar, 30, a worker with Mazagoan Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, is allegedly linked to Sanatan Sanstha, a Goa-headquartered Hindu right-wing outfit.

This is the fifth arrest in the case, which ATS claims involves alleged Sanatan Sanstha members conspiring to carry out blasts and other terror activities in the state.

Besides Pawar, the ATS has arrested Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar, Sudhnava Gondhalekar and a former Shiv Sena corporator, Shrikant Pangarkar, from Palghar, Pune and Jalna over the past few weeks.

Pawar, whose name cropped up during the interrogation of the arrested persons, was on Saturday produced before a special holiday court, which remanded him in ATS custody till August 31.

According to an ATS officer, who did not wish to be named, three mobile phones and a computer were recovered from Pawar.

Pawar has been charged under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Substances Act, Explosives Act, pertaining to terror, criminal and terror conspiracies.

While Pawar’s employer, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, refused to comment on his arrest, his neighbours in Ghatkopar, where he stayed with his elderly mother, claimed he was a “kind and helpful human being who used to organise blood donation camps in the area, and extended all possible help to cancer patients too”.