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| India-Pakistan |
| '6 LeT men let off for Rs 10 lakh' |
| 2007-04-12 |
| Even as the dust on the 7/11 terror strike on Mumbai suburban trains that left 200 dead last year is yet to settle down, a storm is brewing in intelligence circles over eight Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, who infiltrated through the Karachi-Mumbai sea route in January, being let off by officials for a "consideration" of Rs 10 lakh. Inputs received by intelligence agencies here reveal that eight LeT militants were accosted by Coast Guard officials off the Mumbai coast when the militantsÂ’ boat developed a snag. However, all the militants were let off after questioning at Diu, where they were allegedly taken by a Coast Guard vessel. Of them, two were later re-arrested by J&K Police in Rajouri. WhatÂ’s of concern is that eight LeT operatives were let off on an alleged "hefty consideration" by some Coast Guard officials. WhatÂ’s more, they had six guides on their onward journey from Diu to Mumbai-Delhi-Chandigarh and Rajouri, raising apprehensions about the depth of the network created by LeT across the country and the ease with which they can operate evading the eyes of Indian spooks. When contacted, the Coast Guard denied having any information about the release of LeT militants from its charge. "If these reports are true, then we would like to be involved in joint investigations," a senior official said. Intelligence agencies are, however, worried about the nexus between subversive elements and officials of the security forces deployed along the vulnerable coasts. Recently, the Centre had sounded a high alert following intelligence briefs that sea route is being used to infiltrate militants and arms and ammunition in the country. The LeT guides appeared at pre-determined hideouts in these cities and provided these terrorists fake identity cards, besides escorting them to their destination through rail and land routes. |
| Posted by:Fred |