PANJIM: Adding to a list of terrorists who stayed in Goa without fear of being caught is Sayyad Ismail Afaque, who was arrested by Bangalore police in January this year. The Bhatkal native not only took shelter in Goa for last five years, but was also trained in paragliding at Keri-Pernem plateau.
As per information available, Afaque had plans to launch an air strike for which he had procured electronic timer device, digital circuits, pipes and other materials from US.
The department conceded it has no clue about this but would verify the information based on news reports. “We have not received any communication from Bangalore police about this revelation. We will verify the report, known to us through media,” Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg told Herald.
It is learnt that in a submission to a local court in Bangalore, Afaque had a trainer by name Narendra Raman who usually visits Goa during the tourist season. The terrorist’s training along the coastal stretch lasted for a few weeks in November 2013.
Sources said that in the north district three places – Keri, Harmal and Anjuna are popular for paragliding and Bangalore-based Raman being roped-in to train them.
“Raman is a regular visitor to Goa every tourist season. Its been five years that he comes to Goa every October… A rented accommodation at Keri in Pernem is always ready for him and his two companions including a female. He trains tourists on Keri plateau,” a source disclosed. Raman has been a regular face since last five years. The house owner was quizzed by the local police.
Sources further said while department is awaiting a formal communication from its counterparts in Bangalore, Pernem police have been tasked with gathering intelligence.
Goa has often been made a soft target by terror groups with more than half-a-dozen taking shelter here until they were caught either by the counterparts in Goa or arrested elsewhere.
Pakistani trained Kashmiri terrorist Tariq Ahmed Batlo, Odhisa’s top Naxal leader Shambhu Beck, Chota Rajan’s sharp shooter Sheikh Umaid-ur-Rehman Ishrat Hussain, Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba’s David Coleman Headley, Indian Mujahideen’s co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and Garikapatti alias Gopal Rai alias Govind Rao have been Goa’s high profile tourists.
A new name of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s ex-aide Shyam Garikapatti was recently added after he was picked from the tranquil Saligao village earlier this year.
