Terrorists plan to strike strategic installations in Goa: Police

Panaji, Mar 12 (UNI) The interrogation of the suspected terrorist Tariq Ahmed, now in Goa police custody, has revealed that the Pakistan-backed terrorists are planning to strike various installations including Dhabolim airport, Mormugao Port and oil refineries in the state.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police (crime) Ujjwal Mishra, Tahreeq-ul-Mujahadeen, an offiliate of the dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba, had planned to use Goa as a safe conduit for organising the strikes, which were, however, foiled with the arrest of Ahmed at the Margao railway station on Friday last.

He told UNI that the suspect had escaped from Srinagar police custody in 2002 after being in the jail for one year. A science graduate, Ahmed was trained in computers.

Inputs from J&K police confirmed he was from Srinagar and was a terrorist trained in Pak-occupied-Kashmir. Further details, regarding the purpose of his visit to Goa and stay for over eight months in Margao, were not yet known.

Ahmed, who was remanded to the 14 days police custody yesterday for further investigation, has not revealed anything specific so far.

He is a ''hard nut to crack'', IGP Mishra said.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified the security at all the strategic installations here.

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