In the light of repeated acrimonius exchanges between the Central Empowered Committee

Faheem Ahmed Ansari, alias Abu Zarar, an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative...

Faheem Ahmed Ansari, alias Abu Zarar, an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative who reportedly conducted a recce of a dozen sensitive spots in the city for possible terror strikes, has told interrogators that he was recruited as a jehadi by three locals in Mumbai.

The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) today said Faheem — one of eight LeT operatives arrested in Lucknow on February 10 in connection with the attack on the CRPF camp at Rampur last month — has told interrogators that he was Lashkar’s Mumbai link. A local hailing from the Motilal Nagar slum in Goregaon (West), Faheem was given instructions to arrange for accommodation in the city for LeT fidayeen.

“Faheem was brought to the city by the UP Special Task Force for two days, and has now been taken back to Lucknow. During the time we questioned him, he revealed nothing substantial about other operatives who might be in the city. However, he said he was indoctrinated by three men in Mumbai,” said JCP (ATS) Hemant Karkare.

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He added: “Of the three men who spoke to him about jehad and urged him to take up terrorism, two are now believed to have gone to Pakistan, while the third has gone underground after Faheem and the LeT module was busted in Lucknow. However, all this is a version provided by Faheem, and we are ascertaining whether this is true.”

According to the ATS, Faheem had conducted recces at 12 spots in the city, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Haji Ali, the Mumbai Police headquarters, the Maharashtra Police headquarters, Gateway of India and the BSE.