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How terrorists slip out

December 24, 2008 11:35 IST

Ever wondered how terrorists make their exit after their operations? There is a clear-cut plan for terrorists to make their way to Pakistan after their operations, say the police after interrogating Sabahuddin, who is being grilled by the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad.

After the Bangalore Indian Institute of Science attack, Sabahuddin quietly slipped into Pakistan – at a time when the police forces were scanning the country's nook and corner.

Then how did he -- and other terror operatives -- give them the slip? In true filmy style, that is how.   

Sabauddin said he left India on a passport that was made by none other than Shahid Bilal -- the Harkat ul Jamaat e Islami operative in charge of South Asia operations. He says the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and HuJI  have a network when it comes to slipping its operatives out of India. Immediately after the IISc attack, Sabahuddin left for his home town in Bihar. After spending a couple of weeks with his family, he managed to slip into Bangladesh where he met Muzammil, an LeT operative, in Dhaka

where he was asked to meet Junaid.

Sabahuddin said he had no inkling who Junaid would be. To his surprise, he said he later discovered that Junaid was none other than Shahid Bilal. 

"I was advised not to stay in one place. Hence I went to Cox Bazaar, Chittagong and St Martin Island before returning to Dhaka. Bilal then met me at one Hotel Garden where I was put up. I was told that there was a group of other jihadis who were staying at the same hotel and they were all waiting to enter into India to carry out attacks. Bilal also informed me that he had formed a group in India exclusively for the LeT and HuJI, and these men would provide support to terrorists coming from outside the country," Sabahuddin said.

Bilal also asked him fro two photographs for making his passport -- with which Sabahuddin flew to Pakistan. 

See Also: Coverage on Mumbai Attacks  

The dossier of a terror mastermind

Vicky Nanjappa