ATS peps up network of police informers in Maharashtra sensitive areas.

Following the execution of Afzal Guru, the mastermind behind Parliament attack, the state ATS has told its informants to keep their eyes and ears open regarding even the slightest commotion in any of sensitive areas in Maharashtra.

The informants, many of them Muslims, have been asked to mingle with youth from the community and inform authorities at the slightest suspicion.

Rakesh Maria, ATS chief, said, “There have been threats to avenge Guru’s death. We have revived our informant network and will keep a close tab on the activities of notorious groups.”

The intelligence agencies have also received confidential information following which Mumbai has been put on high terror alert. This was after they intercepted an e-mail in which terror outfit Indian Mujahideen said it would carry out attacks on the 40th day (chaliswan) of Guru’s death.

Guru was hanged on February 9 inside Tihar jail after he was convicted in the case.
A crime branch official said, “The exercise of keeping a tab on sensitive areas is always done. However, now it will be done more rigorously as there is a possible threat. We have spread the informant network in Muslim-dominated areas, such as Kurla, Mumbra and Nagpada.

Another official said there are some notorious groups in the city that brainwash their youth.
“After what happened at Azad Maidan we can’t take any risk. With these miscreants, one can never be sure as to the extent to which they can go as they are brainwashed to think that killing others is the only way of getting revenge for their people,” he added.

@littleyadav