Maha BJP asks, ‘was the ATS sleeping?’

Maha ATS chief claims terror suspect was under lens

After Delhi police arrested Mumbai resident Jaan Mohammed Ali Sheikh (47) for being part of the “Pakistan trained terror module”, the BJP on Wednesday raised a concern over the alertness of state agencies including Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

However, state ATS chief Vineet Agarwal claimed that Sheikh had been under the watch of the Maharashtra police, as he had had contacts with the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

The Delhi Police’s Special Cell on Tuesday busted a Pakistan-organised terror module with the arrest of six men, including two Pak-ISI trained terrorists and Sheikh. After his arrest, his family was questioned and his home was searched by the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra ATS.

The Delhi police claimed to have averted serial blasts and targeted killings in three states including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh during upcoming festival seasons.

“No explosives or weapons were brought in Mumbai. Maharashtra and Mumbai are absolutely safe,” ATS chief Vineet Agarwal said.

Sheikh, a resident of Dharavi area in Mumbai, had a case registered against him in the Pydhonie police station around 20 years ago for his alleged involvement in a firing incident.

“He had connections with the D-gang around 20 years ago. He was always on our radar like 1,000 other people. The Central agencies shared the information about this operation with the Delhi Police and not with us. Therefore, it is the Delhi Police which can give more information,” Mr. Agarwal said.

However, BJP leader Ashish Shelar asked whether the MVA government and ATS were sleeping while Sheikh was preparing for terror activities.

“The terrorists are residing in Mumbai and hatching the conspiracy. Was the ATS sleeping? What was the state police doing?” he asked.

The Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said that this is not the time to raise the question on the law and order situation. All need to support the police for their investigation.

On Wednesday, he held a meeting with several top officials including the Maharashtra ATS chief, Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale and additional chief secretary of home department Manu Kumar Shrivastava in Mantralaya. Speaking with the reporters, the state home minister said, “This is a very sensitive case. This is not a subject of political discourse.”

Mr. Agarwal said the ATS team will go to Delhi to interrogate Sheikh.