In a significant joint operation, the Anti-Terrorist Squads of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh police a suspected lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) operative Salim Mukim Mohammed Khan caught from the Mumbai airport in the early hours of Mumbai.
Acting on a tip off from the UP police, the Maharashtra ATS officials arrested Salim Mohammad Khan, when at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport from United Arab Emirates (UAE). After Salim’s arrest, the state ATS officials informed their counterparts from UP about the development.
A resident of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, Salim had allegedly been involved in the fidayeen attack on the Rampur CRPF camp that took place on January 1, 2008. He was absconding since the incident.
The initial investigations by the Maharashtra ATS have revealed that Salim owed allegiance to leT.
The Maharashtra ATS is handing over the custody of Salim to the UP police who have registered an offence under section 121, 121(A), 122, 123 ( sections relating waging or attempting to wage a war against the Government of India) of Indian Penal Code, read with 3, 7, 25 Arms Act r/w 5, 7(A) Explosive Substance Act, sections 3, 4, 5 Explosive Act, and sections 5 and 7(A) of the Foreigner Registration Act.
Salim is the third terrorist to have been arrested in connection with the 2008 attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur
The investigations have revealed that Salim had acquired terror training in a terrorist camp in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
A handler for a Pakistan ISI agent Aftab, Salim had provided finances for the terror acts indulged in by the former (Aftab). Aftab had been arrested earlier in Faizabad.