Another missing Malwani man returns

“Last week, when the news of the disappearance of four youths from the neighbourhood appeared in newspapers, we learnt that Noor was among them but we don’t suspect he would take up any terror activities,” said the relative. Four youths, all residents of the Malwani locality in Malad West, went missing from their homes between October and the second week of December. They were Mohsin Sheikh, autorickshaw driver; Wajid Sheikh, an unemployed graduate; Ayyaz Sultan, another unemployed man; and Noor Sheikh, who did odd jobs.

While Wajid was traced and caught near Karjat in Pune Tuesday when he was travelling to Mumbai from Chennai, and Noor is back, the ATS is now certain that ‘ring leader’ Sultan has travelled to Kabul. The agency suspects Sultan has gone to Kabul to secure a base and then facilitate the passage of other youths. The ATS is trying to ascertain if Sultan, who left Malwani in October, has joined any terror outfit.

The counter-terrorism agency is also on the lookout for a local clergy who they suspect brainwashed the four. Initial investigations have revealed that Wajid, Noor and Mohsin travelled to Chennai to get fresh passports made but were unable to do so since they were not able to get forged rent agreements.

“Until we get the third youth, Mohsin, we cannot substantially conclude that the three were planning to join any terror outfit. Both of them (Noor and Wajid) claim that they fled since Sultan’s family had lodged a missing person’s complaint and they were harassed by his family members to help them regarding his whereabouts. Fearing that the police might subject them to torture, the three fled,” said an official from the agency. Sources said once they got all the three youths and subjected them to sustained interrogation, they would decide whether or not to book them under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.