Maharashtra ATS identifies 3 more in '06 arms haul case

Maharashtra Police's anti-terrorism squad today told the special MCOCA court here that they have zeroed-in on three more suspects in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case and have to arrest them with the help of 26/11 key handler Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.

One of the person identified is a tempo driver, the ATS told the court. When special judge S M Modak asked Jundal whether he has a defence counsel or he needs an advocate from legal aid panel, Jundal said he will have to talk to his parents in this regard.

Further, the court directed that ATS officers will go to Jundal's parents and tell them that if they want to meet him, they can come to Mumbai at their own expense.

However, the court told Jundal that he will not discuss anything about the Aurangabad arms haul case, the 26/11 case, in which he was arrested earlier, and interrogation, with his parents. If he discusses, he will not be permitted to talk to his parents at all, the judge said.

"The court has allowed Jundal to meet his parents only for 10 minutes in the presence of ATS officers," judge Modak said. The court also remanded Abu Jundal to ATS custody till September 10.

On May 8, 2006, a Maharashtra ATS team had chased a Tata Sumo and an Indica car on Chandwad-Manmad highway near Aurangabad and arrested three terror suspects and seized 30 kg RDX, 10 AK-47 assault rifles and 3,200 bullets.

The Indica was allegedly driven by Jundal, who managed to give police the slip. Hailing from Beed district of Maharashtra, Jundal then allegedly drove to Malegaon and handed over the vehicle to an acquaintance.

In May 2006 itself, Jundal escaped to Bangladesh from where he fled to Pakistan on a fake passport obtained with the help of LeT operatives.