A suspected terrorist of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), allegedly involved in an attack on a CRPF camp in Uttar Pradesh in 2008, was arrested today at the Mumbai airport shortly after he flew in from UAE, police said.
Salim Mukim Khan alias Abu Amaar alias Arif, a native of Hathgaon in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, was facing a lookout notice and was stopped at an immigration counter on the intervening night of July 16 and 17, said a police official in Mumbai on condition of anonymity.
His interrogation and records available with the security agencies showed his alleged role in the "suicide" attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, on January 1, 2008, he said.
Initial inquiry by the Maharashtra ATS showed that Salim was suspected to be associated with LeT, the official said.
Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) was informed and its team reached Mumbai and arrested Salim.
Eight people, including some CRPF jawans, had been killed in the terror strike.
In Lucknow, Inspector General of UP ATS Aseem Arun said that after the arrest of ISI agent Aftab from Faizabad on May 3, 2017, the ATS had come to know that Salim Khan used to pass on directions to him and also send him money from abroad.
Arun said that two people, Kausar and Shareef, arrested in connection with the attack on CRPF camp, had told the UP police that Salim Khan had got training with them at a terror camp in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2007.
While being abroad, Salim had been in contact with Aftab and gave instructions to him about terror activities and funding, the official in Mumbai said.
Aftab had been in constant touch with the Pakistan High Commission and had gathered information about several defence establishments in UP, the official said.
UP ATS and Maharashtra police are interrogating Salim Khan in Mumbai, Arun added.
In Mumbai, the police said the UP ATS will seek Salim's custody for questioning in the Rampur attack and alleged involvement in severeal other anti-national activities under their jurisdiction.
The Maharashtra ATS is extending all cooperation to its UP counterpart for Salim's interrogation, the official added.
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