'Family left after Ansari's arrest'

BEED: Neighbours of Zabihuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, the key plotter of 26/11, find it hard to believe that the man they knew was involved in terror attacks. But some said they had spotted a change in his behaviour, especially his style of offering prayers, once he started following Ahl-e-Hadees, the ultra conservative sect.
Neighbours were first reluctant to talk about Ansari.They had not seen him for over six years, ever since his residence was raided by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) in May 2006, following a big arms haul near Ellora in Aurangabad district. "We have not known the family well, in fact we have not seen Zabihuddin ever since we shifted to Hattikhana in Kagzi Darwaza area a few years ago," said Bharat Giram, a neighbour of the family. "The family doesn't generally mix with people. We have seen only Zakiuddin, Zabihuddin's father, going out for work but his gaze was always fixed to the ground,'' said Giram, who works for the local cable network. "A few days ago when our power supply was disconnected, the senior Ansari allowed us to use his power connection till our supplies resumed. That was the only time we spoke," he added. He saw Zakiuddin and his wife leave their home at around 7pm on Monday after several strangers visited their residence.
Some neighbours said Jundal's father was not well for some time and his condition deteriorated on learning of his son's arrest on Monday. Zakiuddin, who suffered two heart attacks in the past, was reportedly admitted to Civil Hospital, from where he was discharged on Tuesday, they said, adding he once worked as an insurance agent. Jundal's mother has diabetes. A neighbour said, "Ansari's parents are unwell. But they say if he is found guilty, they wouldn't mind even if he is hanged in front of them." The family has another house in Georai tehsil of Beed district, but nobody lives there for two months, they said.
Other neighbours avoided mediapersons. "Ever since news of Zabihuddin's arrest flashed on TV channels, dozens of reporters and cameramen visited this otherwise sleepy lane,'' said Lala Khan, a plumber who had worked with Zabihuddin, who was then an electrician. "I got a chance to work with him, but he didn't appear dangerous then. He wouldn't have responded if you slapped him. The developments have surprised us," Khan said.
"Ours is a locality of daily wagers. Zabihuddin's father shifted here from Georai about 12 years ago," said Feroz Khan, who lives close to the Ansari home. He said two of Zabihuddin's five sisters were married before his alleged involvement in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul surfaced. Khan, who is also an electrician, said the family faced many problems after Zabihuddin disappeared. "After he disappeared, two of his sisters were divorced and remarried. The others were married off with difficulty," said Khan. He said Ansari's youngest sister married a few months ago, in the presence of a few people, at their residence. He added that some strange people (probably from the ATS and IB) too were seen around that time.
Some neighbours, who preferred not to be identified, said, "We spotted some change in his style of prayers. At namaz, he would stand in the characteristic legs apart, hands-across-chest style of the Ahl-e-Hadees sect.'' Incidentally, people who were seen in his company and later disappeared or were arrested by the police, too had followed the same style of prayer. However, no one could say how he and the others got involved with Ahl-e-Hadees which had some followers in Aurangabad. The link could have been forged through SIMI activities in Aurangabad.
But there was no tell-tale signs like the availability of quick money, as Ansari kept on working as an electrician till he disappeared after his name cropped up in the arms haul.
Police sources said Ansari may have worked as an electrician at the police superintendent's office for a while but was not directly employed, and was recruited by a contractor.