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Ahmedabad Blasts Suspect Held In Aurangabad
In a major success for the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, its officers locked away Mohammad Abrar Babu Khan alias Abrar Sheikh, a suspect in the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts, and his accomplice Mohammad Shakir, 32, following a fierce shootout at the Himayat Baug area in Aurangabad on Monday.

Their aide Khaleel Qureshi, 20, was killed in the cross-fire.
All the cool authorities do crossfires, these days.
The group reportedly has links with the banned terror outfit, Indian Mujahideen
A locally recruited auxilliary of Pakistain's Lashkar-e-Taiba, designed to give a domestic patina to Pakistain's terror war against its bigger neighbor...
 (IM).

The group, all former Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members,
Kicked out because they're too old...
had also plotted to eliminate the judges of the Allahabad high court who had pronounced the verdict in the Babri Masjid case, said sources.
"We must have dire revenge!"
For the last three months, the police had been working on information that the group, led by second-in-command Abrar, has been trying to set up their base in Maharashtra and were active in Aurangabad, Jalna and Buldhana, revealed ATS chief Rakesh Maria.
Mahmoud the Weasel's Indian cousins do thriving business on their side of the border...
"They were planning to commit robberies in the state and we have been trying to track them," he said.
Typical of the noble Lions of Islam -- unable to get enough dosh legitimately from their fellow worshippers, they turn to a life of crime.
In July-June 2011, the Madhya Pradesh police had locked away Abu Faisal, who has links with the IM, from the Juhu Gully area in Mumbai.

"The group had carried out a spate of robberies in Madhya Pradesh and used the money for terror funding. After Faisal was locked away, Abrar took charge," said Maria.

During interrogation,
"Corporal Mukkerjee: bring the utensils of questioning!"
"Even the number seven Craftsman, Captain?"
"Especially the number seven Craftsman!"
Faisal had told the police that his group was planning to kill two high court judges who had given judgment in the Babri Masjid case," said a police officer, requesting anonymity.

On the formation of the group, an officer said that after security agencies turned the heat on Faisal, he had gone into hiding at at his in-laws' place in Madhya Pradesh.

"There he met senior SIMI leader Safdar Nagori, who is currently in jail. Later Faisal went to Kerala for terrorist training. Faisal and Abrar were also in touch with top SIMI functionary Abdus Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer. Abrar's name also figures in the 2008 Ahmedabad blast case charge sheet. Another key member of the group Aqeel Khilji, 42, is still on the lam," said the officer.

"The group had bought a house in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand where fake passports could be prepared," said another police officer.
It would be a bit difficult to bring the usual in from Pakistan...
On Monday, the Aurangabad ATS had got a tip-offthat Abrar Shakir and Qureshi would arrive at Himayat Baug.

"When the police approached them, they opened fire. The police fired nine rounds, while the three men fired five rounds. Constable Sheikh Arif Sheikh Ismail got shot on his left shoulder and Qureshi was killed in the encounter.
Those Indians are showing initiative again. Not just a crossfire, but an encounter, too! D'you suppose the X marking the spot would show up on Google Earth?
Shakir, who was shot on both his thighs, is in hospital," said Maria.
Dr. Quincy awaits events with his customary sang froid.

Posted by: 2012-03-28
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=341779