Pak Army protects two Malayali terrorists

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The investigation agencies have found that two Malayali terrorists, who are accused in many terror-related cases, are being protected at a Pakistan army camp, situated near the Karachi unit of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the premier intelligence agency of the State of Pakistan.

Sabir alias Ayoob of Kannur and C.A.M. Basheer of Aluva had reached Pakistan from Saudi Arabia. They have been given 24 hours protection by the Pak army. It has also been found that Riyas Bhatkal from Mangalapuram is also with them.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has obtained the voice samples of the three. The three fled to Pakistan after India and Saudi Arabia strengthened their diplomatic relationship and exchanged accused in terror-related cases.

Sabir and Basheer had been coordinating terrorist activities while staying in Saudi Arabia. Of late, Saudi had caught Abu Jundal and Ansari, and handed over to India. The Arab country had also promised India to hand over terrorists once the latter gave DNA samples of the relatives of the accused. Sabir and Basheer smelled trouble and moved to Pakistan.

Now, Lookout notice would be issued via Interpol in Pakistan. The NIA has also decided to collect the DNA samples of their relatives.

Basheer’s Mission

Basheer is an aeronautical engineer hailing from Aluva. He had served as the national chief of the banned outfit SIMI. He gives air warfare training to those youths recruited by ISI. He is one of the accused in serial blasts in 1993, in protest against demolition of Babri Masjid, which left 250 killed. After the blasts, he fled to Gulf. He has close links with D-Company of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. He also recruits people like Thadiyantavide Nazir and Sarfraz Nawaz to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Sabir’s route

Sabir left Kannur in 2000 and started terror activities in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Coimbatore. He reached Pakistan after his activities in Dubai, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. He is accused in Kashmir recruiting, Bangalore Blast, Coimbatore Press Club Bomb case, Hyderabad blasts and E.K. Nayanar Murder Attempt Case. He is the chief plotter of Ernakulam Collectorate Blast. NIA confirms that Sabir was one of the youngsters recruited to Kashmir for training in Pakistan. He took five Malayalis from Delhi to Kashmir for crossing the border. Of the five, four persons were gunned down by Indian army. Subsequently, Sabir along with his brother escaped to Gulf. He shifted between Gulf countries and Bangladesh. He reached Iran and visited Tahawwur Rana, an accused in 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US investigation agency FBI confirmed that the person who stayed with Rana was Sabir after they recover a fake passport in the name of one Shameer from Rana’s room. Sabir got training under ISI officers. He is also an expert operator of GPS system.