Police see terror threat on Ahmedabad by 'dirty dozen'

At least 12 terrorists have reportedly sneaked into Gujarat and are hiding somewhere in the rural areas. Sources in the police said the 12 extremists about whom they had received inputs from central IB included the three terrorists — Abdul Subbhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, Mujib and Afridi Pathan — whose photos were released on Wednesday.

The sources said the extremists are hiding somewhere in the state’s rural areas but their targets are the festivals and functions scheduled in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, including Vibrant Gujarat, right up to Uttarayan.

The three terrorists who have already been identified are reported to be the leaders of the gang, while the other nine are said to be ‘new faces’. The sources said the gang had already conducted a recce (reconnaissance) of the places where big functions such as the mega chess tournament, Sabarmati Marathon and Kankaria carnival among others are to be held.

“We have been able to identify only three members of the gang — the gang leaders — but there are nine more hiding in somewhere. We have learnt that they are somewhere in the rural areas close to Ahmedabad,” said a highly-placed source.

IB sleuths and police informers have been asked to search rural areas where the terrorists could be hiding while the local police have already intensified patrolling in the countryside.

The state police have put commandos and the paramilitary forces on stand-by for an emergency.  “All the necessary measures to fortify the city and ensure security have been taken by the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) and the city police,” additional director-general of police, law and order, SK Sinha told DNA.