Bangalore police to probe antecedents of UK terror suspects

Bangalore police has begun investigations into the antecedents of the two doctors hailing from the City - Mohammed Haneef and Sabeel Ahmed – who had been detained in connection with the failed terror attack at Glasgow airport in United Kingdom last week.

Though the Bangalore Police had not received any request from either the police in UK or Australia for assistance in the probe, Commissioner of Bangalore City Police Neelam Achuta Rao said the counter-terrorism cell of the police would try to find out whether the duo had been “indoctrinated” in Bangalore or other parts of the State.

“We are trying to find out whether they have got anything to do with indoctrination here in the State or in the City. Whether there is any incriminating material with them or any of their associates”, he said.

Ever since Bangalore came on the terror-map, Neelam Achuta Rao said a counter-terrorism cell had been set up. “That cell has been conducting investigations and inquiries and gathering intelligence. It is an on-going process and the cell will investigate into this matter also”, he said.

However, he admitted that there has been no official request from either UK or Australia for information about the antecedents of Mohammed Haneef and Sabeel Ahmed. “We are conducting the inquiries on our own”, the Bangalore City Police Commissioner added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Home Minister M P Prakash said the Government would mount a vigil on students from outside the State, who are pursuing higher education in the State. “We will have to keep a tab on their activities as it has become necessary in the wake of certain developments”, he said.

“On most occasions, the terrorists appear very well-behaved and impressive. It is all being done in the interest of safety and security of the State”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Haneef’s wife Firdous, who had delivered a baby girl last week, told television reporters at her residence in Bangalore, that her husband was innocent and expressed hope that he would return to India.

Rubbishing allegations that he was fleeing Australia on a one-way ticket, Firdous said Mohammed Haneef had purchased a one-way ticket as he planned to take her and the new-born on his return journey.
She said her husband had been detained simply because the SIM card used by another suspect Sabeel Ahmed belonged to him. “He had handed over the SIM card of his mobile to him at the time of leaving for Australia”, she said