Anti-terrorism squad picks up Asad's brother

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad anti-terrorism squad, led by Navinchandra Reddy, on Thursday evening searched the sprawling eight-room, single storey residence of Indian Mujahideen operative Asad Khan Jamshed Khan in Naigaon, about 15 km from Aurangabad, and seized documents.
The search was carried out following Asad's arrest by the Delhi police in connection with the serial blasts in Pune on August 1.Asad's younger brother, Hussain Khan, has been picked up for questioning.
The ATS questioned Asad's family members, including his ailing father, who has been on ventilator support for the past three-and-a-half years. Reddy told TOI that the ATS was in the process of gathering details in the case. The house is located on a huge piece of land and is surrounded by high walls.
Asad's another younger brother, Abdullah (17), said, "Nobody in the family knew why the police had searched their house and why they questioned some of us We cooperated with them," The family does not have a television so the family was not aware about the development. "We came to know about his arrest only after the policemen and the media arrived," he added.
According to Asad's family, he had gone to Delhi two months ago to join a 'jamat'. From there, he was supposed to move to other places. Jamat is a spiritual reformation when people keep away from family and dedicate themselves to prayers.
The ATS' search of Asad's house shocked Naigaon's residents. Nearly 200 villagers gathered around the house. "The family has been staying in the village for two years now. Though they are good to local people, we hardly know about them. We only know that Jamshed's is a reputed family from Latur. They first came to the region five to six years ago and settled in Jamala. After selling their property there, they shifted to Naigaon, where they had bought large tracts of land to develop plots," a villager said.
Villagers said it is difficult to believe that Asad was an IM operative and could be involved in terror acts. "For us, Asad and his family were involved in purchase and development of land," the villager said.
Another villager, Mukarram, said, "The family hardly mingled with others and would discuss land deals or farming only when asked."