Massive NIA search operation to unearth arms smuggled in 1993

AHMEDABAD: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) undertook a massive search operation on Wednesday about seven kilometres away from Gosabara coast in Porbandar in a bid to unearth a large cache of arms that are tipped to have been smuggled along with the infamous RDX-arms landing here by fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim in 1993.


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Gujarat

officials confirmed that NIA requested local police for excavation equipment and digging operation started on Wednesday. “Search operations follow a specific information that a second consignment of arms including AK-56 rifles, AK-47 rifles and grenades were also smuggled 25 years ago along with the RDX-arms consignment that landed at Gosabara coast in 1993,” A top police official told TOI.

A search operation being undertaken by NIA at Gosabara coast in Porbandar

‘Weapons from third dhow also landed on Gosabara coast’

The operation is likely to continue for two to three days,” the police official told TOI. Top Gujarat police sources said that NIA has received credible information that along with two dhows -- Al Sadabahar and Bismillah -- that sailed from near Karachi coast in Pakistan loaded with sophisticated weapons and RDX, another dhow had left Pakistan for the state coast. While Al Sadabahar docked at Gosabara coast, Bismillah reached Shekhadi coast in Raigarh district in Maharashtra. “The RDX smuggled using Al Sadabahar and Bismillah dhows was used in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts which killed more than 250 people. The serial blasts were orchestrated by Dawood Ibrahim, his brother Anees, Mohammed Dosa, Tiger Memon, Chota Shakeel and their men to avenge the killings of Muslims in post-Babri demolition riots of 1992,” a senior police official said.

“However, according to information received by NIA recently, weapons and grenades loaded on the third dhow also landed on Gosabara coast and were buried some seven kilometres away,” said officials.

Sources said that the NIA first landed in Ahmedabad about three days back. "We coordinated with NIA and Porbander police that has provided the central agency with one JCB and one excavating machine on Wednesday morning," a senior Gujarat police official said.

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