Gujarat ATS arrests suspected Hizbul Mujahideen activist

ATS chief Ajay Tomar told reporters that Bashir had been arrested from near Anand town, about 60 km from here, late last night on the basis of specific information.

Mr Tomar said the ATS had received information that a person was involved in suspicious activity in Ahmedabad and nearby areas, following which the police had put him under surveillance.

The arrested person is a resident of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and was allegedly in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen activists based in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Bashir is learnt to have reached Gujarat on February 28 for talent spotting and scouting of targets for terrorist attacks.

According to Mr Tomar, the ATS had information that Bashir had visited several important locations in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Science City, the Law Garden, the Ahmedabad Railway Station and the Akshardham Temple.

He said Bashir had gone to Pakistan in 2006 and had received training at a terrorist training camp in that country.

He said the suspect would be presented before a local court later today for remand. He said the police was trying to find out if Bashir had any contacts in Gujarat.

NNN