ISI mole had info on key defence installations

The country and more specifically, the defence installations seem to be under the cloud of being attacked by terrorists following the startling revelations made by Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) mole to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Crime branch's sleuths disclosed that the 28-year-old ISI mole Javed Abdul Gafoor Mozawalla, alias

Salim Mozawalla had recceed many defence installations, oil reserves, dams and holy shrines in the country and had clicked several photographs of the same. What has shocked the sleuths is that the accused was in touch with two officials in Pakistani embassy in New Delhi. The police also recovered many CDs, cell phones and SIM cards from the arrested ISI operative.

According to the Mumbai crime branch officials, Mozawalla was operating as a passport agent for those who used to visit Pakistan. The officials are yet to ascertain reason of visits of those whose passport was arranged by Mozawalla.

Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police (crime) said, "Following his interrogation, we found several photos of dams, oil and defence installations, shrines of 25- 30 places located in Maharashtra, Delhi and two other states. We suspect that he has managed to send across all the information to his handlers in Pakistan." The officials have also found a manual in English that contains details of the code language and other languages that terrorists use to communicate among themselves.

The accused has been into all this since last couple of years before he came under the scanner of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and was nabbed by the Crime Branch on December 9. Roy added, "There are two entries on his passport in connection with his visit to Pakistan. However, he also possessed many fake passports that have been seized and are under scrutiny."

The officials stated that they have not come across any evidence linking him with the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as yet. The accused, who is HSC pass-out, has undergone a training course in civil aviation in Mumbai and has two certificates, only one of which is in his name.

Another recovery that puts onus of suspected terror strike on defence installation is the recovery of a list of name and contact numbers of defence officials by the interrogators. Citing the national importance of the case, Ministry of External Affairs and the union Home Ministry are being regularly briefed by the Mumbai police.