A terrorist module was busted with the arrest of one and detention of two men from Mumbra in the neighbouring Thane district in a multi-state anti-terrorism operation, an official said here on Thursday.
The operation was carried out in the early hours by a team of Maharashtra Anti-Terorism Squad along with the Uttar Pradesh ATS, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, and the Crime Investigation Cell of Andhra Pradesh Police.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Nazim Shamshad Ahmed, 26, of Bijnor, while the Maharashtra ATS detained the two others in Mumbra an was interrogating them.
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These three accused men were living in a single-room apartment in a building in Devripada area of the Muslim-dominated Mumbra town since the past few months.
The investigators have seized cash, mobile phones and other things from them, the official said.
"The arrested person, along with other co-accused from different parts of the country, proposed to cause harm to national integrity and social harmony," an ATS official said in Mumbai.
"An offence in Lucknow vice CR No.8/2017 under various sections is registered and is being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh ATS," the official added.
According to him, the Uttar Pradesh ATS also arrested Nazim Shaikh and Akram Ansari from other parts of India.
Uttar Pradesh ATS chief Asim Arun told IANS earlier on Thursday that
"The Uttar Pradesh ATS conducted joint anti-terror raids in Maharashtra, Punjab, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in coordination with police of the five states," Uttar Pradesh ATS chief Asim Arun told IANS earlier on Thursday.
Arun said in Lucknow that the UP ATS has arrested the other two from Jalandhar and Bijnor for conspiring to carry out terror activities.
"The police are interrogating four more people in other parts apart from these two, who were detained in Mumbra. Legal action will be taken on the basis of evidence," Arun told IANS.
The police had received information that some hyperactive members of a terror group were trying to recruit new members.
The operation also involved police forces of Punjab and Bihar, he said.
--IANS
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