Mumbra residents to act as police’s eyes
After the Maharashtra ATS and its UP counterparts arrested a man and detained two of his relatives on Thursday from Mumbra for allegedly planning terror strikes in the city and other parts of the country, local residents on Friday said that they will be more vigilant and will form groups to keep a check on newcomers to the area They said they will keep the police in the loop about all their activity.
The arrested accused, Nazim Shamshad Ahmed, 26, who hails from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly headed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) Bijnor module, which had 10 recruits, radicalised youths to join and collect funds for their operation. He had moved to Mumbra earlier this week and was residing with his relatives. It was also found that he was trying to get his relatives to join ISIS .
The neighbours are still under shock to learn about a suspected ISIS agent living near them. “We are still in shock and now we have planned to formed a committee and conduct meetings regularly. Apart from this, the committee will also include residents from other societies and police officers will be kept in the loop” , said Sayra Bano Shaikh,36, a homemaker from Rashid Compound.
Nafis Ansari,20, a college student from Mumbra, said, “We never thought such an activity will ever take place. The committee will include police officers too, which will be of great help. We will note down the details of those who come to stay on rent and leave the society for some reason. Their details will be shared with the police”.
A police inspector from Thane commissionerate said,” Its good that the locals will help us with the suspects. We want that not one, but all the locals residents to maintain a strict vigil. We want people to come ahead and talk to us or let us know about such suspicious people. We are also keeping a tab on social networking sites.