Mumbai blasts: ATS homes in on 13/7 sympathisers

The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS), which is probing the triple blasts in Mumbai on July 13, has claimed to have got important leads and that the probe is on the right track. The police have also reportedly come across some information about sleeper modules of terrorist outfits in the city and state. A breakthrough is likely soon.

According to sources, several members of Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba lodged in various jails across the country have been questioned by investigators and the police have reportedly got vital information about the sympathisers of terrorist outfits.

“These sympathisers do not actively participate in any terrorist act. Their roles are restricted to helping terror modules by providing finance and accommodation. We have come across a few such sympathisers and their questioning has given us information about a few sleeper modules in the city,” said an investigator on condition of anonymity.

The police have questioned at least seven such sympathisers from Ahmedabad, Surat, Indore and Uttar Pradesh. Although police sources are tight-lipped about the identities of these module members, they suspect that some of them might be directly or indirectly involved in the serial blasts. “We are heading in the right direction and a certain lead is being followed upon. It cannot be shared at this moment, as the investigations are at a sensitive stage,” said a senior police officer, hinting that a breakthrough could be possible soon.

The police have also refused to comment on whether the suspect, whose sketch was prepared on the basis of eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage, has been identified. Sources also refused to comment on whether IM or any new fallout group is involved in the blasts.

Police teams have fanned out to lead sites and are working jointly with the local police and central agencies. The police also suspect that an entirely new module could be involved in the blast and that it might be a one-time module. “A one-time module is entrusted with a job only once and then its members are asked to go into hiding,” said an officer.

The police are also seeking information from various state police on radicals wanted by them in terror-related cases. “This information will help us in getting a clear view on the background of these wanted terrorists and to ascertain whether and how they are linked to any Mumbai-based modules,” the officer said.