Cops find Indian Mujahideen sleeper modules in Kanpur

After the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) deputy chief Abdur Rehman Makki recently named it as a prime target, Kanpur is suddenly being looked at closely by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

Exhaustive investigations in the city by police and the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) over the past few days have resulted in startling disclosures.

Sources in the UP Police revealed that at least three sleeper modules of the Indian Mujaheedin (IM) have been identified in Kanpur, and they are being closely observed. The suspects were earlier associated with the outlawed Students’ Islamic Movement of India (Simi).

“After scratching the surface, we were startled to find that the Simi we had written off long back is very much alive in Kanpur,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity. However, raids at various Simi offices several times a few years ago did not yield anything, he added.

The fact is after Simi was banned here, its operatives started working undercover in close association with the IM. The investigations in last week’s Pune blast too showed the involvement of Simi.

Intelligence agencies have come across sleeper modules in Kanpur who have been in constant touch with IM members wanted in connection with blasts in Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Surat.

“We have not been able to accost the suspects directly as they are in respectable businesses. But we are keeping a close eye on them,” an official said.