Lashkar's western India chief, brother held

MUMBAI: In a major breakthrough, the crime branch of the city police arrested Faizal Ata-ur-Rehman Sheikh, a man believed to head the Lashkar-e-Tayiba’s operations in western India, and his brother, Muzzamin Sheikh, from Mira Road on Thursday.

Senior Police Inspector JK Hargude told DNA, “They were arrested from Tirupati building in Naya Nagar area of Mira Road. Faizal was in telephonic contact with LeT leader Azam Cheema.”

Police said Faizal, 30, and Muzzamin were trained in subversion in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Faizal handled the logistics of LeT operations in western India.

He was also associated with LeT operatives Ghulam Mohammad Khan and Tariq Mohammad Dar, who were arrested in connection with the October 2005 blasts in New Delhi.

Hargude said, “Faizal Sheikh played the pivotal role of disbursing funds, giving instructions, and recruiting operatives. Muzzamin Sheikh played the role of courier, transferring funds.”

Police are still trying to establish the brothers’ roles in the blasts. But another officer said their arrest has “probably pre-empted further strikes”.