32 police teams formed to trace Usmani

MUMBAI: The Colaba police were not informed about the production of 21 suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives, including Afzal Usmani, before the sessions court in south Mumbai on Thursday, otherwise there would have been enough security at the premises.

Following Usmani’s daring escape from the court, the Mumbai police have formed a team each from all the police stations in south region and have launched a manhunt with even the crime branch and the anti-terrorism squad joining in.

Although 10 policemen of Navi Mumbai police escorted eight of the 21 hardcore criminals brought from Taloja prison, they did not inform their counterparts in Mumbai.

“We were not in the loop about Usmani and other accuseds’ court production,” said Krishna Prakash, additional commissioner of police (additional CP, south region).

The Mumbai crime branch, which had first arrested Usmani in 2008, has also formed seven teams to trace the bomb blast accused apart from 10 teams of Colaba police station. Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police (crime), said officers who are familiar with the case and were instrumental in arresting Usmani are leading the investigations.

Officials said they are tapping their informers and searches are already being conducted at places Usmani was known to frequent; some of his acquaintances have been put under the scanner.

“The police teams have checked all the lodges in the town, along with major railway stations such as the CST, Churchgate, Bandra, Mumbai Central,” said a police officer.

Special checks were carried out at the Gateway of India, suspecting that Usmani might have taken a ferry and fled using the sea route.

The Alibaug police have also been alerted.