The recent seizure of arms and explosives from Ellora near Aurangabad and from Manmad in Nasik district proved that the whole state was on terrorists' hit list, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said on Sunday.
"In the past, we believed that Mumbai, the economic capital of the country is on the hit list of terrorist. But, the last week's incidents proved that the whole state is on their list," Patil, who holds the Home portfolio, told reporters in Aurangabad.
Patil was in Aurangabad to address a meeting of senior police officials from Marathwada region at police commissionerate in the wake of the seizure of arms.
The Anti-Terrorist Squad of Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested three suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants and seized 10 AK-47 rifles, 2000 rounds 40 magazines and 30 kg RDX explosive from them near here while it seized two boxes containing RDX and an AK-47 rifle from Ankai fort at Manmad in Nasik district on Thursday.
The Home minister reiterated that the state police would never allow the evil designs of the terrorists to succeed.
{{/usCountry}}The Home minister reiterated that the state police would never allow the evil designs of the terrorists to succeed.
{{/usCountry}}He also lauded the joint operation by the ATS and Aurangabad police and added that a big tragedy was averted due to the operation.
The minister said the quantity of explosives seized in Aurangabad and Nasik districts was far more than those used in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
"It was not clear so far as to what was the target of the terrorists," Patil said.
Patil also announced that ATS squads would be constitued in Aurangtabad and Nagpur within two weeks.