Post Godhra riots: Gujarat ATS arrests 2 from Burhanpur

INDORE: Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested two persons accused of supplying arms to two Ahmedabad-based persons in 2003 from Burhanpur city of Madhya Pradesh late on Sunday. Burhanpur police said the two men were wanted for supplying arms and ammunition in Ahmedabad in 2003 to avenge the attacks on Muslims in the state during the post-2002 Godhra riots.The Gujarat ATS team nabbed them Ganapati Naka area.
Abdul Razak alias Abdul Rahim Sheikh and Mohammad Shakeel Sheikh, both aged 36, were arrested following a probe by the ATS.
Burhanpur police had no information about the case, till they were given a letter by the ATS claiming that the youths were being taken away on the said charges.
"The ATS team probing the case received information that the two accused were residing in Burhanpur by changing their identity," said Jaywant Kakoriya, Ganpati Naka police station in-charge.
The duo used to work at a welding shop in the area and the ATS kept a close watch on them before detaining them.
During questioning, their alleged role in supplying arms and ammunition to two persons in Ahmedabad came to light, following which they were arrested.
"The duo had provided 10 arms and associated ammunition to Mahmood Saiyed residing in Tokarsahi Pol and Farddebhai staying at Mastan Mohalla in Dariyapur. The accused also had a role in supplying arms in Bhusaval, Khandva and Surat," the ATS said in a statement.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch had registered a case against them and others on April 4, 2003 under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act.
The "jihadi conspiracy" was allegedly hatched to spread terror and eliminate leaders of the right-wing outfit VHP and other Hindu leaders to avenge the attacks on Muslims during the post-Godhra riots.
The Ahmedabad crime branch had in 2003 lodged a case against 82 people in this connection, allegedly for receiving help from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and terror outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Over a dozen accused are still absconding.