Handler of Mumbai terror suspects likely based in Pakistan, says ATS

MUMBAI: In a major development in the recent city terror conspiracy case, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said on Tuesday the internet protocol address of the device used to make calls by the foreign handler of the arrested accused indicates its location in Pakistan.
The foreign handler, Anthony alias Anas alias Anwar alias Annu, had used SIM cards of Malaysia, UAE and Russia to communicate with the accused.
Rizwan Momin stayed here in Mumbra on rent
“One of the arrested accused was communicating with his handler through an internet call. Although the number is not a Pakistan number, the IP address indicates its location in Pakistan,” said Vineet Agarwal, ATS chief and additional DGP. Mateen Hafeez reports.
Handler ‘Anthony’ may be a brother of fugitive gangster
The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has claimed that the communication between a suspect held in the nationwide terror conspiracy recently indicates that although the phone number is not Pakistani, the IP address of the device indicates the handler is located in Pakistan.
The ATS had registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on September 17. The suspects were booked for criminal conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, destruction of evidence and harbouring a terrorist.
ATS sources said the handler, Anthony, is suspected to be the brother of a fugitive gangster. State police have so far arrested three persons; auto driver Zakir Shaikh (52), tuition teacher Rizwan Momin (40) and Irfan Shaikh (50), a tailor.
They are currently in ATS custody. Police said auto driver Shaikh was in touch with Anthony and had saved his numbers under different names. “A document recovered during the search has details about the allotment of budget to execute the terror conspiracy,”' said an officer.
“Shaikh had asked Irfan to receive Rs 50,000 from a financial services company. Irfan received the money, gave Rs 1,000 to Shaikh and was asked to keep Rs 49,000 with him. We have recovered money from Irfan. Moreover, Shaikh had booked a ticket to go to Lucknow. He wanted to visit Kanpur also and we are interrogating him about the purpose of his visit,” said an officer. Shaikh could not board the train since ATS arrested him from Irfan’s house before he could leave for the railway station.
Police also called the office bearers of the financial services company through which money was sent. “They will be helping us with details about the financial transactions,” said an officer. The Rs 50,000 was routed through a US-based company ‘to avoid suspicion’, added police.
Police claimed Shaikh had given his mobile phone to Momin and asked him to destroy it. Momin broke it into three pieces and threw it into a nullah in Mumbra near his residence. Police recovered the mobile and sent it for cyber analysis.
“While searching Momin’s tuition class in Bandra, we have recovered five SIM cards. We are probing it,” said an officer.