Radicalisation of youth has become easier now: Former ATS chief

12 people, including Abu Jundal held guilty. What is your reaction on this?

I am happy that 12 persons were convicted, but some were let off. Only after reading the judgment it will be clear as to why they were let off.

MCOCA charges have been dropped from the case. What do you have to say on this?

Ammunition were found from three different places and at different times. Firstly, huge cache of arms were seized from Aurangabad, two days later from Malegaon and few were seized under a pull in Yeola. It was one consignment and were ferried by members of an organised crime syndicate. The Supreme Court had also confirmed application of MCOCA in the case. The ATS will need to examine and decide whether or not to go for an appeal against MCOCA been dropped.

Those acquitted claim that they were falsely framed in the case. Any reaction?

In a crime syndicate it is not necessary that everyone should play equal role. Some give shelter, some do recce of targets, some make space available for hiding explosives, while some arrange for accommodation. Roles are different but they are part of the same crime syndicate and since they are aware of the conspiracy, they are involved.

How difficult is it to bust a sleeper module? Has the trends changed in terrorism? And how difficult has it become for the security agencies to track radicals?

People associated with sleeper modules are normal people just like us, do routine activity and nobody could be suspicious about them. Earlier, lot of resources were required. Lashkar-e-Toiba's functioning was different. Things have changed now. Now, one person can cause huge damage. Now, people are not required to move from one place to another and hence it is very difficult to connect people who are radicalising youths. All these trails which were the evidences are not there anymore. Now sitting on net, you have access to all the information. It has become easier for them (terrorists) and difficult for security agencies to control radicalisation. Now, we have emerging threat of Lone Wolf Attack, which wasn't there earlier.

Convicted persons

1) Mohammad Amir Shakil Ahmed aka Shaikh Amir Shaikh Shakil
2) Mohammad Muzfar Mohammad Tanveer
3) Javed Ahmed Abdul Majid
4) Mushtaq Ahmed Mohammad Isaf Shaikh
5) Afzal Khan Nabi Khan
6) Dr Mohammad Sharif Shabir Ahmed
7) Bilal Ahmed Abdul Razaq
8) Sayyed Akif Sayyed Jafruddin
9) Afroz Khan Shahid Khan Pathan
10) Aslam Kashmiri
11) Sayyed Jabiuddin Sayyed Jakiuddin aka Jabi, aka Riyasat Ali, aka Abu Jundal
12) Faisal Ataur-Rehman Shaikh

Acquitted persons

1) Mohammad Juber Sayyed Anwar acquitted.
2) Abdul Azim, aka Raja, aka Abdul Aziz Abdul Jalil
3) Riyaz Ahmed Morammad Ramzan, aka Raju
4) Khatib Imran Akil Ahmed
5) Shaikh Vikar Ahmed Nisar
6) Abdul Samad aka Mohammad Samad Samshir Khan
7) Mohammad Akil Mohammad Ismail Momin
8) Firoz Tajudin Deshmukh

Trial separated

1) Shaikh Abdul Naim aka Nayyu, aka Sameer – absconded
2) Mustafa Mehmud Sayyed aka Munna Mustafa — then approver now hostile witness hence trial separated