ATS identifies two more LeT sleeper cells in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: The Anti-Terrorist Squad of the state police and the Intelligence Bureau have identified at least two more Lashkar-e-Tayiba sleeper modules in Maharashtra whose members “might have been party” to the 11/7 blasts conspiracy.

The ATS is likely to arrest four more people in this connection in the next couple of days.

The ATS busted an LeT sleeper unit on Tuesday when it arrested Sohail Sheikh and Jameel Sheikh.

The discovery of more sleeper cells, the ATS said, will help it determine the “cellular structure and geographical spread” of the LeT at local levels. Also, investigating agencies are trying to discern how these sleeper cells are “activated”.

What is known is that each module comprises four to five persons, one unaware of the other’s activities. They are controlled by a larger terror unit.

The interrogation of the six persons arrested so far has concentrated on securing information about how they networked among themselves and their links with LeT and SIMI operatives in India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that  Tanveer Mohammad Ansari, the unani doctor held on Monday, had visited Pakistan in 2004 to learn terror techniques at a Bahawalpur LeT camp.

In another development, three people from Khandwa, MP, who had volunteered assistance in the investigations, were escorted to Mumbai by a Maharashtra police team.