Auto driver overhears trio discussing Kasab; Maharashtra ATS on high alert

Mumbai: The Maharasthra anti-terrorism squad is on high alert and is on the lookout for three men, after an auto driver reported that he had overheard his passengers having a suspicious conversation. They were allegedly discussing Pakistan terrorist Ajmal Kasab and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

The city police force which was already on alert due to Prime Minister Modi’s day long visit to the financial capital on Sunday is now extra vigilant as the input provided by the auto driver “can't be ignored considering the nature of his claim," a senior IPS officer from the Mumbai Crime branch said.

According to reports, the auto driver had picked up three men from Sion in Mumbai on Saturday evening at 7.30 pm and had dropped them at Airoli. While driving, the auto driver heard fragments of their conversation and heard the words “Kasab” and “boss” and started to pay attention to grasp what they were discussing.

While two men spoke fluent Hindi, the third man had a hard time conversing in the language. One of the passengers allegedly said “Who will look after my family if I execute the plan well?” and the other man responded saying, “you don’t have to worry about anything as long as our boss is there, look at Kasab’s family, they are doing well”.

After the passengers alighted at Airoli bridge, they crossed the toll plaza and took another auto which headed towards Navi Mumbai. The driver tried to note down the number of the other auto but failed to do so as it sped away.

The quick thinking driver then rushed to Navghar police station and informed the cops about what had transpired. According to his statement to the police, the three men were carrying three huge bags that they clutched closely and kept on their laps throughout the journey. The driver also said that the men kept asking him questions about various locations in Mumbai and it seemed like they were new to the city. He also provided the police with their physical description.

The Maharasthra anti-terrorism squad was called in following the auto-driver’s report and ATS officers have made sketches of the two suspects that have been distributed to all police station in the area including special crime branch units. ATS, teams from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai crime branches are working on the case.