Police probe link of terror duo to ’93 Mumbai blasts fugitive

Shaikh and Ali were arrested on Saturday night after the ATS apparently stumbled upon them while monitoring “suspected international numbers” in the aftermath of the German Bakery blast in Pune last month. The two men were allegedly planning to target ONGC tanks in Bandra,Mangaldas Market in South Mumbai and Thakkar Mall in Borivali.

Sources said Shaikh’s alleged family ties to Khan from the paternal side were discovered while probing the background of the two families. They said they were also hunting for three more men who are suspected to be involved in planning attacks on other targets in the city.

Khan is said to be among the confidants of Tiger Memon,the main accused in the 1993 serial blasts which killed 257 people. Khan is alleged to have taken part in pre-blast meetings in the city and had also been to Pakistan to be trained in using weapons,according to confessional statements in the special Terrorist and Disruptive Act (TADA) court which tried the case.

A resident of the communally sensitive Do Taaki area in Byculla in South Mumbai,Khan is believed to have moved to Bandra after the riots in 1992 sparked by the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

“According to the prosecution,Khan is alleged to be one of the core members of Memon’s team who was involved in all major acts such as conspiracy and filling RDX in vehicles…his role has been mentioned in several confessional statements,” defence lawyer in the case,Farhana Shah,told The Indian Express. “Khan’s name was also mentioned by one of the approvers in the ‘93 blasts case as one of those involved in the conspiracy.”

The CBI issued a Red Corner Notice (A-348/8/1993) against Khan which says that he was born on February 20,1962,in Mumbai. Sources said he was nicknamed “muchchad” for his thick,long moustache and that he became a part of the blasts conspiracy under the influence of Sardar Khan,another conspirator in the case who has been sentenced to life.

Shaikh’s family,however,denied being related to Khan Bashir Ahmed Ainul Haq Khan but said that their family had lived in the same Byculla neighbourhood as Khan decades ago.

“I have been living in Bandra for over 40 years with my family and haven’t lived anywhere else. My sons were also born and educated in a nearby school here and this being a huge Muslim locality,we never faced any problems during riots,” said Shaikh’s mother Alifa Bi.

(With inputs from Aiswarya A)