Underworld-terrorist nexus in Gujarat unearthed

Underworld-terrorist nexus in Gujarat unearthed
HIMANSHU KAUSHIK

AHMEDABAD, FEB2: The Gujarat police have found a nexus between Punjab terrorists and the underworld. Recently, it arrested Ibrahim Khan, alias Chacha Hasankhan Bhati, who was the contact between Babbar Khalsa International and the Chhota Rajan gang. However, another man, known as Anna, who was also a vital link, is still missing.

The police have also arrested seven members of BKI and three members of the Chhota Rajan gang. While the BKI men were here to raise money to revive terrorism, the Chhota Rajan gang members were trying to step into the underworld vaccuum, caused by the death of notorious gangster Latif a few years ago. Together, they had reportedly planned some operations, but were caught before they could strike.

According to Deputy Commissioner (Crime Branch) A K Surolia, the ISI had reportedly asked BKI terrorists Wadhawa Singh and Mehal Singh, both believed to be in Pakistan, to revive terrorism in Punjab. The duo, in turn, chose Saroop Singh, alias `Doctor', a professor in Punjab, to recruityouths and co-ordinate their activities, said Surolia.

Saroop Singh sent Sarbatjit Singh alias Sabba Sukhvant Singh and Sajan Singh alias Bhagat Singh Jat to Gujarat to raise funds through kidnappings and pushing counterfeit Indian currency into circulation. They contacted Ibrahim Khan, who stayed in a village close to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border and also the Indo-Pak border.

Ibrahim put them on to Anna, a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, which had been trying to extend its operations to Gujarat. Together, they planned some operations in Gujarat. In the meantime, the Punjab police received a tip-off that Saroop Singh was setting up a base in Gujarat because of its porous land and sea border.

Following an alert from Punjab, the Crime Branch started keeping a watch on certain places, including a hotel in Shahibaug. It was found that Ibrahim was a frequent visitor to this hotel. A surveillance on him led the police to Sajan and Sabba. Jarnail Singh, another terrorist, was seen with them.