Bashir Ahmad Baba, the Hizbul Mujahideen operative currently in Gujarat anti-terrorism squad’s custody, had planned to turn the Motera stadium into a grisly killing field during an IPL-3 match.
But the jehadi’s plan to cause mayhem was thwarted by unprecedented security presence, forcing his commanders to urge him to target less protected sites, such as the Sports Club.
However, that diabolical scheme, too, came unstuck because the police had intercepted phone calls made between Baba and his handlers. Extensive security arrangements were later made at the club, particularly on the eve of Holi.
Sources apprised of the Baba’s terror agenda said he used to call the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Bilal Shera from the phone belonging to one Dr Anand Shah. Dr Shah worked for an NGO offering free health check-ups. Baba had inveigled a job at the NGO and gained the confidence of Dr Shah.
The sources said that Shera had told Baba to obey the orders of the senior commanders and do whatever he could to terrorise Ahmedabad during the IPL-3 season.Baba was told to carry out a complete reconnaissance of the Motera stadium, which he managed to accomplish.
However, sources said that he was unnerved by the heavy police presence during the India-South Africa cricket match and decided to change the plan.
A police inspector at the Naranpura police station, RT Gohil, told DNA that a late night security drill was undertaken around the Sports Club after receiving a specific input about a terror threat. Some officials, however, said that the drill was a routine affair.
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