Police turned deaf ear to Salar inputs
THE UP police scored big points when it gunned down Lashkar militant Salim, alias Salar ? whom it claims was responsible for the Varanasi blasts ? in a record 12 hours. But the success automatically poses an embarassing question for the police: Why didn?t they act on precise inputs on Salar made available to them by the Intelligence Bureau for the last three years?
THE UP police scored big points when it gunned down Lashkar militant Salim, alias Salar — whom it claims was responsible for the Varanasi blasts — in a record 12 hours. But the success automatically poses an embarassing question for the police: Why didn’t they act on precise inputs on Salar made available to them by the Intelligence Bureau for the last three years?
According to sources, the indifference of the UP police helped Salar establish a well-entrenched network of Lashkar modules across the state. These specialize in tapping educated Muslim youth, reportedly even subverting bright minds in places like Aligarh Muslim University. Salar, in fact, shifted base to AMU in 2000. From there, he sent at least 20 boys for training to various LeT camps.
A sleuth associated with a botched police operation to nab him recalls: “We wanted to nab Salar right on campus but the cops fled for fear of trouble.”
Following last year’s Delhi blasts, intelligence collectively was on the lookout for him and the Delhi police even declared a cash reward. Sources say the UP police were regularly briefed about his plans and exact locations. But they just didn't bother.