Many terror sleeper cells 'are hidden in Mumbai'

Mumbai: Many terrorist sleeper cells are hidden in Mumbai with designs to blow up top business and political hubs in the city, the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Mumbai Police disclosed on Wednesday.

The revelations follow preliminary investigations after two Bangladeshi terror suspects were gunned down by the squad late on Tuesday night in Mira Road, in adjoining Thane district.

"The targets include the Bombay Stock Exchange [BSE], Jeejeebhoy Towers Building, the Reserve Bank of India [RBI] headquarters, the Mantralaya, the Maharashtra government headquarters, all in south Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange [NSE] in suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex," said Additional Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh.

Close ties

According to Singh, the two slain terrorists had close ties with the Harkat-ul-Jihad-Al-Islami. One of them has been identified as Mohammad Ali.

The police also recovered from them fake Indian currency notes, two small firearms and a white powdery substance suspected to be RDX. "We have sent this powder to a lab for analysis to ascertain whether it is RDX or not," Singh said.

"The Mumbai police have gone on a high alert following the encounter and security at all important places has been beefed up," Singh said. Tuesday's shootout assumes significance as it came on the eve of the anniversary of the March 12, 1993 serial blasts here.

The revelations also come when the state legislature is holding the annual budget Session at the state legislature, opposite the Mantralaya at Nariman Point, south Mumbai.