The arrest of Imam Ghulam Elahi Yahya Baksh has evoked fierce protests from the Ulema Council. They allege the police have been over-eager in branding the clergy. The cops, though, feel they are on strong ground this time. The evidence apparently shows that the imam had arranged for the stay of the module members at Haj House and Musafirkhana. He had received three different consignments, probably explosives, last year and also Rs 70 lakh from a hawala dealer with political connections. Three of his bank accounts are also being checked because of heated movements in them. But the clincher is his alleged mobile conversations with LeT northern commander Salauddin several times a day. Salauddin’s phones were tapped last year, and it corroborates his link to the imam.
So is Mumbai again a terror target after a relatively calm three years? It seems so. Of the three module members arrested—Mohd Ramzan, Arshad Hussain Badru and Khurshid Ghani Lone—Badru is an ex-corporator of the National Conference party while Lone’s brother-in-law was shot dead by J&K police in an encounter four days before he was nabbed in Mumbai. The J&K police team visiting Mumbai should throw more light on this. Of course, there are those who take the ATS claims with a pinch of salt, considering its past record. Remember Mohd Afroze? We were told he was bin Laden’s own man in the 9/11 attacks. He walks free today.
