Gujarat ATS probing Bashir's mystery terror base

The Gujarat Anti-terrorist Squad is trying to unravel details of terror network the arrested Hizbul Mujahideen suspect was trying to set up in the state, officials said on Monday.

The ATS has seized important documents from Bashir Ahmed Baba alias Aijaz (32), a Kashmiri, which include a diary containing e-mail addresses and contact number of persons in Gujarat and other places, they said.

"We are scrutinising the contact numbers and e-mail addresses found from Bashir and trying to trace it," said ATS sources, who are interrogating him after he was remanded to 14-day police custody by a local court in Anand.

"This could give us clues to what was Bashir planning after coming to Ahmedabad and later meeting people in other districts of the state," they said adding "the documents could also lead us to some local aides of Bashir who were facilitating him in his mission."

According to the ATS, Bashir's main job was to identify vulnerable youth, brain wash them and sent them to Pakistan for terror training.

Bashir was also an expert in explosives and used to make bombs using tin cans of Pepsi, they said.

Bashir, also known as 'Pepsi Bomber', was capable of making bombs using tin cans that could be exploded using timer devices and could also be used as hand grenades.

Bashir had come to Ahmedabad on February 20, as representative of Srinagar-based NGO Kimaya Foundation, working for people with cleft lip.

The ATS are also questioning the people whom Bashir had met as a representative of the non-governmental organisation.

Bashir, who has a case registered under explosive act against him in Srinagar, was arrested by the ATS on Saturday from near Samarkha village in Anand district.

According to the ATS, Bashir was in contact with Hizbul Mujahideen leader Bilal Shera, stationed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and was also in constant touch with one General Abdulla of the Jamiyat-ul Mujahideen during his stay in Ahmedabad.

ATS officials said he had done a detailed recee of some places in the city which include the Indian Space Research Organisation, railway stations, Kankaria lake, Science city, Akshardham and various malls and cinema houses.

Bashir has been sent to 14-day police custody by a local court in Anand, where he was caught.

He has been booked under Indian Penal Code's section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.