more-in Mumbai: Sleuths of the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday seized another cache of arms and ammunition in Nallasopara, based on the interrogation of the three people arrested last week. The ATS now suspects that the trio and their aides were planning to target places with large crowds. On August 10, the ATS had arrested Vaibhav Raut and Sharad Kalaskar in Nallasopara and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar in Pune, and recovered 20 crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, and bomb-making material in Mr. Raut’s residence. A day later, the ATS seized country-made guns and gun parts at a commercial space owned by Mr. Gondhalekar in Pune. Sources said Mr. Raut and Mr. Kalaskar revealed the whereabouts of another cache in a Nallasopara godown. “We have recovered five country-made pistols and three partially-assembled pistols, along with 11 cartridges of 9mm calibre and 30 cartridges of 7.65mm calibre. We have also found gun parts like barrels, springs, and trigger mechanisms,” an ATS officer said. Meanwhile, a separate team of the ATS recovered a laptop, six hard drives, five pen drives, nine cell phones, several SIM cards, and documents at a location specified by Mr. Gondhalekar in his interrogation. “The seizure of SIM cards and cell phones, along with the six vehicle number plates found on Saturday and the sheer quantity of firearms and ammunition recovered so far, indicates careful planning and involvement of some more accused. When we started tracking the accused on the basis of some cell phone numbers, we found that there were layers of at least three to four people between the person in whose name the SIM cards were registered, and the three arrested accused, who were actually using them,” the ATS officer said. The officer said with Independence Day and Eid-ul-azha around the corner, the significance of the seizure can not be overlooked. “Crude bombs can definitely cause major injuries and even death. Places with high footfalls are always a target for those planning disruptive activities, and festive occasions provide a lot of such options.” On Monday, the ATS submitted reports of the medical check-ups of all the three arrested accused to the designated Unlawful Activities Prevention Act court.

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