Mumbai police release sketches of 3 suspects

MUMBAI: Police on Friday released sketches of three persons who apparently carried out reconnaissance of sensitive spots in the city like Mahim dargah, Haji Ali dargah and Mahalaxmi temple last week.
    
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K L Prasad said the three, along with a burqa-clad woman, had used a taxi for roaming around the city for the recce on October 22 and 23. "The sketches were made as per the description given by the taxi driver," he said.
    
The suspects allegedly asked the taxi driver to keep two bags containing 'unknown material' with him while leaving the cab near the Sidhivinayak temple on October 23, following which the driver got suspicious had a heated argument with them.
    
Prasad appealed to people to come forward with any information about the three as they could potentially be linked to some terror groups.
    
Prasad was also critical of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) officers who had leaked the information to a section of media on Thursday and said that the leak would affect police investigation.
    
"We are appealing to people now because everything is out in the open. It is a very serious concern if a police official leaks operational information for petty reward," he said.
    
Prasad said police had been searching for the trio for the last two days and added that they could be 'fidayeen'.
    
Adequate security has been provided to the taxi driver, he said.
    
Regarding the security arrangements at different spots where the trio were suspected to have carried out recce operation, Prasad said, "security at these spots are in place since the beginning of the festival season starting from Ganeshotsav in September."
     
People can give information about the trio by dialing 100 and 103 on the telephone, he added.