How the ATS cracked the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case in three days

>> In the first week of May, 2006, a call from Pakistan intercepted by the central agency IB revealed that two vehicles - one in Nashik's direction and the other moving towards Malegaon - were consigned to move heavy arms and passed it on to Maharashtra ATS. It also intercepted the number of the two cars.

>> Led by ACP Sunil Deshmukh, the search for the vehicle started immediately. Traps were laid in Nashik, Aurangabad and other parts of Maharashtra. All the highways and inner roads were put on high alert.

>> Between May 7-9, the cops posed as villagers, truck drivers, hotel staff, and lay in wait for the cars to show up. On May 9, just 15 km from Yeola Juction on Chandwad Manmad Highway, the police saw the car approaching and pounced on it. There were three people in it; one was caught but the other two managed to escape and warn the other car about the trap.

>> The two accused who fled from the car were traced in the nearby mountains and nabbed after two hours.

>> The second car, which left in Malegaon's direction, was traced later and arrests were made.

Time to move on

Imran Khatib: Soon after he was acquitted,he said that he will now be able to focus on his career. "If I go apply at any office, they are going to look at my bio data which shows that I am a terror accused." Asked if he would seek compensation for the years he served in jail, he said, "I will speak to my lawyers about it but I fear that if I apply for compensation, they will involve me in some other case."

The case
On May 8, 2006 the ATS received information about transfer of a cache of consignment on the Chandwad-Manmad Highway near Aurangabad. The squad laid a trap and arrested three suspects along with seizing a sizeable haul from a TATA Sumo and other car.

Who landed where

Convicted: 1) Abu Jundal, 2) Mohammad Amir, 3) Muzzaffar Tanveer, 4) Javed Ahmed, 5) Mushtaq Ahmed, 6) Afzal Khan, 7) Dr Mohammad Sharif, 8) Bilal Ahmed, 9) Sayyed Akif, 10) Afroz Khan, 11) Faisal Shaikh, 12) Aslam Kashmiri

Acquitted: 1) Mohammad Juber 2) Abdul Azim 3) Riyaz Ahmed 4) Khatib Imran 5) Shaikh Vikar 6) Abdul Samad 7) Mohammad Akil 8) Firoz Deshmukh

‘My wife has been waiting for 10 years'

Afroz Khan: "I am a tuberculosis patient and have lost too much weight. I am just 35, but have hypertension at this age. I was pulled into this case only because I was in contact with the wrong people. As per our religion, it's not right to take a divorce. My wife has been waiting for me for the last 10 years. So please let me free."

Abu Jundal: "My family has suffered a lot since my arrest. Since I have been named in the media, nobody is marrying my sister and one even got divorced. Since my arrest, I have been in the Anda cell where there in no sunlight and no air. I have faced inequality in jail. But I have faith in judiciary, and so am asking to be let off."

Mushtaq Ahmed: He said that he has been in jail for eight years and has no connection to the case. He has three children to look after.

Afzal Khan: Seeking a lesser punishment, Khan said that he was the only breadwinner of the house and has a daughter to take care of.

- As told to Sailee Dhayalkar