Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 26:

The five SIMI terrorists that were arrested from Odisha’s Rourkela on late February 16 night today spilled the beans on many of their terror plots during a marathon questioning session.

SIMI operatives

As per a source in the investigating team of the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch, the terrorists revealed that they had a plan to kidnap a doctor during their stay in Jharsuguda. However, they failed to execute the plan and instead drew plans to loot a bank based in Sundargarh. STF also identified motorcycles that were stolen by the operatives.

In another terror plot, the Andhra Pradesh police team learnt that they had chalked out plans to kill Andhra Pradesh Police officials that were involved in an encounter resulting in the death of two SIMI operatives. Recce mission to carry out the plan had also been conducted.

Besides, they further planned to kill witnesses who recorded their statements in a court in Madhya Pradesh pertaining to the Khandwa jail break case, as per the findings of the Madhya Pradesh police team.

In the meanwhile, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) – that joined the investigation yesterday, is trying to explore the possible Pakistan and ISI links. As per reports, the SIMI men have confessed to have sent money to Taliban from the bank account of Abu Faisal alias Doctor.

On the other hand, National Investigation Agency (NIA) Superintendent of Police and officials of the STF today visited the Rourkela house where the five arrested terrorists were staying on rent. As per sources in the police, NIA might take the five operatives on remand for further investigation.

The terrorists, as of today, are in STF remand and are being interrogated by the STF, officials of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), police officials of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.