Did IM operative take paragliding class in Goa?

Bengaluru, Sept 8: The intelligence bureau sleuths in Goa are collecting information on whether terrorists had landed in the state and taken classes in paragliding.

The state intelligence will collect data independently as it awaits a formal communication from the Bengaluru police which is investigating a case against the Indian Mujahideen.

The case of the Bengaluru police is that some residents of Bhatkal had sourced and supplied ammunition for the activities of the Indian Mujahideen.

They have further claimed that these explosives were also used in the Dilsukhnagar blasts. In the backdrop of this investigation, the investigators had learnt that one of the persons they have on their scanner had not only stayed in Goa, but had also trained in paragliding.

Holidaying or terrorising?

The person in question is one Syed Afaque. It has been alleged that he had stayed in Goa and even trained in paragliding at the Keri-Pernem plateau. This has led to a wide range of speculation which suggests that he was planning to launch an aerial strike.

The Goa police when contacted by OneIndia say that they are still verifying this claim and are also awaiting information from the Bengaluru police.

Investigators at Bengaluru maintain that they are also investigating this angle. The police, however, point out that this person had procured material to carry out strikes.

The basis of this paragliding angle came about during a deposition by one person who was a trainer at Goa. He had claimed that there was a training programme in which Afaque had allegedly taken part in. The programme took place in the month of Nov 2013 and lasted a couple of weeks.

When terrorists took a break:

Yasin Bhatkal, the chief of the Indian Mujahideen and his aide Assadullah Akthar had taken a break after the horrific 13/7 blasts at Mumbai.

As per their interrogation, they had stayed at a home stay in Munnar, Kerala. However, they pointed out that they had just taken a holiday. Yasin had also visited Goa a couple of times once again allegedly on a holiday. Goa has been a popular destination for several persons such as David Headley also.

Goa which is a popular tourist destination has now come heavily under the scanner after Intelligence Bureau officials have warned of possible terrorist strikes. There have been several instances in the past when arrested operatives have spoken about a plan to carry out strikes in Goa.

OneIndia News