Verul sets up Gram Suraksha Dal

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, May 18 (UNI) The village of Verul (Ellora) in Maharashtra, where a terrorist module was busted and 30 kgs of deadly RDX explosive seized on May 9, has set up a Gram Suraksha Dal (village security force) to protect residents and their livelihood generated from tourist flow to the renowned Ellora Caves located nearby.

Two villagers had helped a crack team of anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of Mumbai police in capturing a youth they later learnt was an belonged to a terrorist module, 11 of whose members have been arrested so far.

The ATS sleuths not only arrested Mohammad Amir, an activist of the banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), but also recovered an arsenal of ten Kalashnikov rifles, 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 30 kgs of the deadly RDX explosive from a jeep parked outside the Ghrushneshwar temple in the village.

The terrorist was from caught from Sant Janardhan Swami Ashram complex, adjoining the temple.

For the help rendered by the two youth, the state government rewarded the village panchayat with Rs two lakh.

The decision to set up VSF was, however, triggered by fear of retaliatory strikes when villagers learnt they had helped police catch a terrorist.

Village sarpanch Karbhari Dhivre told UNI that the incident shocked the villagers who were not aware they were aiding the capture of a terrorist. Since the media broke the news, terrified residents fear retialiatory strikes by terrorists, Mr Dhivre added.

This led to the setting up of a 45-strong security squad by the village panchayat, Mr Dhivre said, adding the village security force (VSF) would become operational from Monday and assist police in keeping vigil in and around the village.

More UNI MPJ SA LR RN1715