India to probe plot hatched in Lanka
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun probing the conspiracy by Pakistan-based terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on US and Israeli consulates in south India.
Interpol has, meanwhile, issued a Red Corner Notice at India’s request for Mohammed Hussain Mohammed Sulaiman, one of the suspects in the case who was arrested in Malaysia, so that he can be brought to the country.
The NIA took over the probe from Tamil Nadu Police to unravel the conspiracy hatched overseas, including links in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives.
According to intelligence inputs, the attackers were planning to travel by boat from the Maldives to reach the coast of Kerala.
Sources said 47-year-old Sulaiman, a Sri Lankan citizen, is wanted in India for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy, acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention, possession of forged or counterfeit currency notes or bank notes, terrorist acts, and raising funds for terrorist acts. He is considered crucial for the investigation.
India has already approached Malaysian authorities for extraditing Sulaiman so that investigators can find out other details of the terror plot and the identity the two suicide attackers who were to set sail from the Maldives.
The plot was foiled after Malaysian authorities tipped off Indian agencies. The Intelligence Bureau gathered information on the conspiracy hatched in Sri Lanka to attack the US and Israeli consulates in Chennai and Bangalore.
According to sources, Sulaiman has told Malaysian authorities that he had received instructions to assist two men in the planned attacks on the consulates.
After further probing, security agencies established the involvement of Sri Lankan national Sakir Hussain, who was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police on April 29.
Malaysia stumbled on the plot when its Special Unit was probing money laundering and human trafficking cases.
Hussain was allegedly in touch with ISI officers for planning the strikes on the two consulates.
Hussain named Amir Zubair Siddiqui, the visa officer at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, as his handler, but islamabad had denied the charge.
Pictures of the US and Israeli consulates, showing various gates and roads leading to the two buildings, were recovered from Hussain’s laptop, sources said.
He claimed these pictures had been emailed to his alleged handlers in Pakistan and its High Commission in Colombo.
Cyber signatures showed the pictures were downloaded at a computer within the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo and shared with Sri Lankan authorities, the sources claimed. (Daily Mail)