Police custody of suspected LeT members extended till Dec 7

A local court on Thursday extended till December 7 the police custody of two terror suspects, arrested for allegedly plotting strikes on oil and military installations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

A local court on Thursday extended till December 7 the police custody of two terror suspects, arrested for allegedly plotting strikes on oil and military installations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

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Mohammed Shareef Thakkar (33) and Mohammed Isak Kumlakh (29) were arrested on November 15 from neighbouring Thane district by State Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). Two pistols and 13 live cartridges were recovered from them.

According to ATS, the duo, who were working as oil tanker drivers for a private firm in Thane, are members of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and had conducted recce of several oil and military installations in and around the state.

ATS on Thursday, while seeking further custody said the duo have been misleading the investigations during interrogation.

"They had earlier claimed that they hailed from Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. But no such address was found when a team of ATS officials went there to verify. The duo is likely from Pakistan," ATS told the court.

Thakkar and Kumlakh were receiving instructions from LeT handlers from the neighbouring country, ATS said, adding, the duo was about to go for training in arms and ammunition.

The duo has been booked under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for waging war against the nation and planning terror activities.