PANJIM, OCT 7
Home Minister Ravi Naik has expressed strong apprehensions over a report in a Mumbai tabloid that two terrorists Kalimuddin Khan alias Rameshwar Pandit and Hafij Sarif belonging to Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) were in Goa.
Naik said that such reports are attempts by certain elements to damage the on-going tourist season. “Such information is always flashed on television and media during tourist season. Why such panicky information is not released during off-season,” he questioned.
Goa’s tourism season begins on October 1 with couple of chartered flights including from Netherlands and Russia have already brought thousands of passengers in just a week.
The tabloid has reported that Goa Police informed Mumbai police about one of the two HUJI members who left for Dadar in Mumbai via train on Tuesday.
Naik said that such alerts are being released by elements who do not want smooth tourist season in Goa.
It has been reportedly learnt that intelligence inputs have cautioned the State to enhance security in wake of festivals and cricket match slated on October 24. “I don’t know who is spreading the wrong information. May be some hotel lobby or someone,” he said.
The minister revealed that Goa is already on general alert and that vital installations are being upgraded. Besides, marine police are constantly manning the coastal stretch and Indian Coast Guard is maintaining vigil along the shores.
Unknown caller: Goa police today ruled out sharing any information in writing to Mumbai police about spotting terrorists in Goa who were planning to trigger explosions at religious places in Mumbai.
Addressing a press conference at the police headquarters today evening, police spokesperson SP (Special branch) Atmaram Deshpande said that Panjim police control room (PCR) only intimated Mumbai PCR about two suspicious people at Panjim KTC bus stand.
A Mumbai tabloid – Mumbai Mirror had quoted the officer as saying that Goa Police had passed on the information to Mumbai railway police that two terrorists – Kalimuddin Khan alias Rameshwar Pandit and Hafij Sarif were spotted in Goa and that one of them boarded a train to Mumbai on Tuesday.
“The unknown caller told the Panjim PCR that he overheard two people speaking in Hindi that ‘Tum apna kam karke Mumbai aa jao. Dadar mein milenge’ (After finishing your work, come to Mumbai. Let’s meet in Dadar) and one of them passed a longish object to another. After that both split and disappeared,” he said.
The call to the Panjim PCR was made at about 7:30pm after which the same information was verbally shared with Mumbai PCR. “Since it was a matter relating to Mumbai, we promptly conveyed the inputs to Mumbai PCR. The caller, however, could not identify the duo but only that one of them had worn a red shirt,” the officer added.
On tracing the number, Goa police found out that the call was made from a coin-box telephone at Porvorim super-market. The caller is untraceable. Deshpande reiterated that it did not inform Mumbai police that one of the two terrorists had boarded the train to Mumbai and was supposed to get down at Dadar railway platform on Tuesday.
Although the tabloid claimed that the letter was received by Mumbai police on Tuesday, Deshpande stated that the incident happened only on Wednesday at 7:30pm. “It was general information. We had sent our PCR van to bus stand and Porvorim but nobody was found,” he said.
The officer further ruled out that there was any specific input on terror alert in Goa. “Possibility cannot be ruled out. But as of now there is no specific information…we have maintained general alert,” he said.
The tabloid also quoted Mumbai additional director general of police (railway) Raj Khilani confirming an alert was received about the two terrorists. Deshpande clarified that he was misquoted.
