ISI sleeper cells pose new threat to Gujarat

Even as the Indian government is holding peace talks with Pakistan, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of that neighbouring nation has renewed efforts to set up new sleeper cells in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country.

For the past six months, the ISI has been trying to create new sleeper cells in the state to replace those of the Student Islamic Movement of India (Simi) that were busted by the Gujarat police.

It may be recalled that after the bomb blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, the police had arrested many members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), a splinter group of Simi.

Sources in the state intelligence said Simi’s sleeper cells had provided key support to the terrorists who had carried out the blasts in the city in 2008. Though Simi is now banned, investigation into the activities of its suspected members has continued. The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Ahmedabad police, recently arrested three people suspected of planning the blasts in the city.

Two of these — Abu alias Abdulvali alias Abdulfakir Siddiqui, and Hasibraza alias Shamim Sayyed — were arrested earlier. On Sunday, DCB officials brought Farqaat Jamaal alias Arshad Jamaal to Ahmedabad after picking him up from Bihar.

Hasibraza is from Patna and is an accused in the conspiracy to blow up the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. Siddique, on the other hand, has been living in the city for years. Sources said the DCB is also investigating whether the Hasibraza and Siddique were planning a terrorist attack during the Rath Yatra.