Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to ensure high-level security cover for 26/11 key handler Abu Jundal, now in Mumbai Crime Branch’s custody.
Jundal was handed over to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) last week, after they filed an appeal in a Delhi court seeking his custody. The Mumbai Crime Branch is probing the 26/11 terror case.
Sources said Chidambaram has assured the state government of Centre’s support to ensure the safety of Jundal, a big catch for the Indian agencies probing the role of Pakistan-based state and non-state actors in the 26/11 strikes. “The Home Minister has asked the state government to ensure maximum security cover for Jundal. In a telephonic conversation with Chavan, he also advised that the state police should not take any chances,” sources said.
Apart from the 26/11 case, Jundal is also wanted by the Maharashtra ATS in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case, Nashik Academy blast and German Bakery blast of 2010.
Since Jundal had already spilled the beans on 26/11 links with ISI and other Pakistan based terrorists, the Mumbai Crime Branch might probe further into the role of handlers of 10 terrorists.