Pakistan terrorist arrest prevented attacks in Goa

Times of India: PANAJI: Possible terrorist strikes at popular tourist locations in Goa were prevented with the arrest of a militant with explosives, including one kg of RDX, and firearms from Margoa railway station, 30 km from Panaji.

Indentifying the militant as Tarique Jalal alias Tarique Batlo, Director General of Police Neeraj Kumar on Saturday said police recovered one kg of RDX, two Russian-made handgranades, two electronic detenators, two cameras, a mobile phone and a CD from his possession after his arrest on Friday night.

Acting on intelligence inputs, he was taken into custody after alighted from Ernakulam-bound Matsyagandha Express at the railway station, Kumar said.

The DGP said during his interrogation the Tariq revealed that he was a member of Pakistan-based militant Tehrique-ul-Mujahiddin which works under Lashkhar-e-Toiba.

He had taken two-and-a-half years training in Pakistan for conducting terrorist activities and has also travelled to Bangladesh and Nepal, Kumar claimed.

"Tourist spots could have been his target," the DGP said and added, "we have to find out whether he was here to set up base or execute some plan."

Investigations have revealed that the terrorist was frequenting Goa for last eight months and was staying in a rented flat at Sirvodem near Margao town.