Terror suspect trying to hire hands held in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat police Sunday claimed to have arrested a terror suspect allegedly on a mission to recruit manpower from the state for training in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK).

Bashir Ahmed Baba, 32, was nabbed in Ahmedabad after he was found to be carrying out recce of various areas in the city, state anti-terrorist squad (ATS) chief, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajay Tomar said.

According to Tomar, Bashir, a graduate and diploma holder in computers, was employed as a camp assistant with Kimaya Foundation in Srinagar for over an year. The Kimaya Foundation is a medical centre for correcting cleft lip deformities.

However, Bashir was actually a “talent scout” for Bilal Shera, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) whose work was to conduct a fortnight long capsule course in explosives handling and bomb making, the ATS chief said.

The Kimaya Foundation had a tie-up with a hospital in Ahmedabad and Bashir had come for training at the facility. However, he showed no interest in this work and was found to have carried out recce of various areas in the city.

“After coming to Ahmedabad Feb 20, Bashir reportedly surveyed ISRO, Kankaria, Law Garden, Anand and Dabhoi and many other places as well,” Tomar said.

“Documents and sim cards recovered from him are being investigated,” Tomar added.

Investigating officers said that Bashir has confessed that he was being paid Rs.15,000 for every candidate sent across the border. So far, about 3,000 people have been trained in Shera’s PoK camp.

The police have sought an extended remand for him.