Indian intelligence agencies have now sought assistance from their counterparts in Saudi Arabia in connection with the busting of a major terror module in Southern Indian that had on its radar key nuclear and defence establishments.
Sources said during course of investigations a strong Saudi link had emerged following which Indian agencies shared details with the Saudi intelligence agencies for further investigations at their end.
It is suspected that the main handler of this key terror module is a top Lashkar-e-Tayyaba commander operating out of Saudi Arabia and he had been in constant touch with at least two of those arrested. Intelligence sources are extremely tightlipped about the identity of this Lashkar commander saying it will hamper further investigations.
In fact, the initial breakthrough had come from cell phone numbers through which the suspects were in touch with their handlers in Saudi Arabia. Indian agencies have forwarded these numbers to their Saudi counterparts. In addition, certain details of hawala transactions in which money came into India from Saudi Arabia through Kerala have also been brought to the notice of the Saudi agencies. This money was to be used for recruiting more terror agents for launching 'high profile attacks' on key defence and nuclear installations.
“We have some idea as to who might be guiding this module sitting in Saudi Arabia. But we want to be absolutely certain and have sought help from the agencies in Saudi Arabia,’’a top intelligence official said.
In its note forwarded to Saudi Arabia the Indian agencies have said that investigations point towards terror outfits developing a strong network in the Gulf countries. At least two top terror operatives, Abu Jundal and Mohammed Fasih, have been caught in Saudi Arabia in recent times.
The arrest of these two has seen a greater degree of co-operation between the two countries on terror and security related issues.
As investigations have now confirmed that some of the suspects had been to Saudi Arabia the agencies are trying to get details of the places they visited and whom all they had met during their stay there.