Ahmedabad BRTS in terror crosshairs

AHMEDABAD: The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Ahmedabad could well be the next terror target. It almost came in the crosshairs of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, based in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Officials of Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) have found this explosive information in the cellphone conversation and email intercepts of Bashir Ahmad Baba, 32, a resident of Kashmir and an HM who was arrested by ATS on March 13 from Anand. “Before Bashir was arrested by ATS, his mobile phone was already under surveillance owing to the huge number of calls he made to Kashmir and PoK,” said ATS officials.

The calls intercepted thus revealed a sinister plan to blow up the BRTS bus at Shivranjani. Sources in the ATS said Bashir used Dr Anand Shah’s mobile phone to make several calls to top terrorist of HM, Bilal Shera, in PoK. Shah, a medical practitioner, allowed Bashir to stay at his flat in Parishram apartment near Shivranjani fly over.

Bashir had come to Ahmedabad in the guise of a Kashmir-based representative of Kimaya Foundation — an NGO with nine centres across India — which helps children suffering from cleft lip. “Bashir and Bilal in one of their conversations spoke about terror attacks in Gujarat. Ahmedabad figured in the first phase of terror plans. Bilal asked about a target that would create a scare and Bashir told him about the BRTS bus stop at Shivranjani,” said sources.

Bashir apparently recced the BRTS bus stop area a couple of times. Later, in an email — a copy of which is now with the ATS sleuths — he wrote to Bilal that the BRTS is a prestigious project for the state government and it is also very slack on security arrangements. He also pointed out that Shivranjani bus stop has a footwear market which draws huge crowds.