Mumbai
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Haroon, a terror operator from Kolkata who is suspected to have played key role in the recent Mumbai serial blasts, has been identified. Gujarat police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) officials say that youths from Gujarat and West Bengal may have been used in the terror strike.

ATS sources said: "Haroon, 26, owns a cloth business in Kolkata. He is, however, absconding. Haroon's email account proves that has been in touch with Taliban leaders." Much of these details, which are being probed further by teams of ATS Mumbai and Gujarat, were revealed by Danish Riyaz, a terror operative associated with the Indian Mujahideen. Danish was arrested in Vadodara by the city crime branch recently.

Just four months back Haroon had met Danish, who worked as a software engineer in Hyderabad. On occasions the duo had also met in Danish's home town, Ranchi in Jharkhand.

Danish is now being grilled jointly by Mumbai and Ahmedabad ATS. "He has told the cops that a terror operative who is lodged in a jail at Madhya Pradesh, Abu Faisal, can give more information on the serial blasts at Mumbai," said ATS sources.

Following this tip-off, Ahmedabad crime branch and Mumbai ATS officials went to MP to question the terror accused. "Faisal has revealed that said youths from West Bengal and Gujarat are likely to have been used to trigger the 13/7 blasts in Mumbai. We have checked at their residences in West Bengal and Gujarat, the youths are all missing at present," said an ATS official. A total of six terror suspects have been identified in this connection. Though, this number could increase, said ATS sources.