Pillai describes militants' arrest as a major success

New Delhi, Mar 14 (ANI): Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on Sunday described the arrest of three terrorists by Anti Terror Squad as a "major success."

Pillai said the security forces have achieved a major success by arresting Lashkar militants.

On late Saturday night, Maharashtra and Gujarat ATS arrested militants who had claimed of a plot to attack on major Indian installations in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Acting on a tip off by Central Security Agencies, Abdul Latif alias Guddu (29) and Riyaz Ali alias Rehan (23)-- residents of Bandra and Dahisar areas in Mumbai respectively-were arrested near Matunga Railway Station.

The two were charged with relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and remanded to police custody till March 18.

In Mumbai, briefing media about the arrest, Maharashtra ATS Chief K P Raghuvanshi said: "We have established that their targets were ONGC in suburban Bandra, Thakkar Mall and Malgaldas Market. They wanted to execute their terror plans soon. Their plans included sabotage and setting ablaze the targets."

Raghuvanshi added the duo had conducted recce of three targets.

Gujarat ATS chief Ajay Tomar said Bashir was in "close contact with Hizbul Mujaheedin leader Bilal Shera who is located in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)."

"We have arrested one Basheer Ahmed Baba alias Aijaz (32) from near Samarkha village in Anand district last night," Tomar said in Ahmedabad. Baba has been booked under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.(ANI)