Wife of 7/11 accused has fled to UK

Security officials said on Monday that Rifa Raheel Shaikh, wife of Raheel Shaikh — the key conspirator in the 7/11 trains bombings, may have fled to United Kingdom. Raheel Shaik has also been traced to UK recently.

Sources in the security establishment told DNA that Rifa had sneaked out of the country sometime around last week. However, Intelligence and counter-terrorism officers have no clue about her whereabouts.

A top Intelligence source said, “Raheel’s wife was staying at Tirupati Apartment on Mira Road till last week. But she went missing since then, after which we decided to alert international police agencies and seek their assistance in tracing out the duo.”

Intelligence officials said Raheel is the brother of Faizal Shaikh and a close aide of Saudi national Rizwan Dawre. Faizal played a crucial role in assembling the executioners (both Indian and Pakistani nationals) along Mumbai’s western suburbs in the run-up to the blasts.

Faizal Shaikh has reportedly told counter-terrorism officers that he took up the cause of “jihadi terrorism” at the behest of Azaam Cheema.