Four suspected terrorists from Sri Lanka arrested in Ahmedabad have told the investigators that their Pakistan-based handler was going to give them the exact location and time to carry out the attack after they collected the weapons dropped for them, an official said Tuesday. The four were detained from Ahmedabad airport on Sunday night by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) after they landed here to carry out terrorist activities at the behest of Islamic State following the directions of their Pakistan-based handler. The ATS had also seized three pistols and 20 cartridges abandoned at a location in Nana Chiloda of Gandhinagar on the basis of geo coordinates found on a mobile phone seized from their possession. "So far during the interrogation, they have refused to reveal as to where exactly they were planning to carry out the terrorist attack," Superintendent of Police (SP), ATS, Sunil Joshi told media persons. All they have said so far is that their handler was going to inform them about the exact location and time of the target after they collected the weapons," he said. The terrorists were taken into a 14-day police remand and were being questioned by the ATS officials regarding their plans. The investigating agency was also trying to find out about the persons who were supposed to help them in India in meeting their objectives, Joshi said. "Forensic extraction of data of their phone devices is underway. Details are being sought from the communication applications found on their mobile phones, through which they stayed in touch with their Pakistani handler," Joshi said. He said that drop points on their mobile phones were also being technically analysed and efforts are being made to find out if there were others who were supposed to help them carry out their objective. Joshi said that since the accused persons are from another country and arrived in Ahmedabad via Tamil Nadu, police of other states and central investigation and intelligence agencies have also joined the probe. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Nusrat (35), Mohammad Faarukh (35), Mohammad Nafran (27) and Mohammad Rasdeen (43). Director General of Police Vikas Sahay said the men travelled to India to carry out terror activities at the behest of the Islamic State. The men told the investigators that they were earlier associated with the banned Sri Lankan radical militant outfit, National Thowheeth Jamath (NJT), and joined the IS after getting in touch with Pakistani handler 'Abu'. The men were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. Sri Lanka to probe Meanwhile, Colombo has launched an investigation to obtain information on the four arrested, a media report said on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's state intelligence has asked for further information from its Indian counterpart to verify the background of the suspects and probe their links to the IS, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported. Sri Lankan authorities will "immediately investigate" to take further action once the information is obtained, the newspaper said, citing sources. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon said they were taking these reports seriously and closely monitoring the developments. Alles and Tennakoon said they would initiate discussions with Indian authorities to gather detailed information about the suspects and their activities, the report said. “We are working in close coordination with our Indian counterparts to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to address any potential threat," Alles was quoted as saying.
