Biggest haul of RDX from three terrorists in Maharashtra

Mumbai/Aurangabad, May 10 (UNI) The State government today announced recovery from three terrorists of biggest ever haul of deadly explosive RDX, more than what was used in triggering the 1993 serial bomb blasts which claimed 257 lives and injured 713 people.

''Recovery of 30 kgs of RDX from three terrorists in Aurangabad is more than what was used in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai,'' State Home Minister R R Patil announced at a news conference held in the Police Headquarter here. He was flanked by State DGP P S Pasricha and Commissioner of Police A N Roy.

Identifying the terrorists as Mohammed Amir Shakeel Ahmed (30), Mohammed Muzafar Tanvir (26) and Mohammed Zubair Syyed Anwar (24), Mr Patil, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, however, declined to identify the outfit they belong to but said all are residents of Aurangabad city.

But police sources in Aurangabad said Mohammed Amir Shakeel Ahmed is an activist of the banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), while antecedents of other two were being ascertained.

Besides the explosive, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Mumbai police and Aurangabad rural police, in a joint operation, had also seized ten AK-47 assault rifles, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, 40 rifle magazines, six pouches of magazines and computer server cabinets used to conceal the arsenal, from a jeep they had intercepted after a 90-minute chase near Kannad, about ten kms off Manmad-Aurangabad highway.

All the three terrorists were today remanded to police custody till May 24 by a Mumbai court after being brought from Aurangabad where they were arrested last night.

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