Phones, routers seized from Aftab Ansari’s cell sent for forensic probe

Mobile phones and internet devices recovered from terrorist Aftab Ansari's cell at Kolkata's Presidency Central Correctional Home have been sent for forensic examination. Investigators are probing suspected calls to Pakistan, possible conspiracies, jail contacts and the involvement of prison personnel

Kolkata: The mobile phones and other internet devices recovered from the Presidency Central Correctional Home cell of Aftab Ansari, the mastermind behind the January 2002 attack on the American Centre in Kolkata, have been sent for forensic examination, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said on Sunday.

The sleuths are also trying to find out whether he used to make a call to Pakistan or not, what conspiracy was being hatched while in judicial custody and who Aftab Ansari used to meet.

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Investigators are investigating who Ansari used to talk to over the phone.

Detectives say that the call went to a Pakistani number.

Sources said that the mobile phones recovered from Ansari have multiple apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram, which are used as a means of communication.

Meanwhile, security in Ansari’s cell has been tightened.

It is learnt that investigators are questioning him inside the cell.

The detectives are also investigating the movements of those who have visited him so far.

Some of the prisoners Ansari used to talk to are also being identified and questioned.

Detectives are also investigating whether he was planning to commit sabotage in collaboration with a militant organisation or whether he was planning to escape from jail.

It may be noted that the sleuths of the city police’s detective department recovered three cell phones with active internet collection and cash from the cell of Aftab Ansari.

Ansari, an erstwhile operator of the terrorist group, Asif Reza Commando (ARC), which had ties with Pakistan-based militant outfits such as Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HUJI) and Jaish-e-Mohammed. (JeM), is currently serving life imprisonment at Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata.

Recently, it came to the notice of the detective department sleuths that mobile communications were being made from the cell of Ansari at Presidency Jail, multiple times in a day. Accordingly, city police sources said, a sudden raid and search operations were conducted at his cell by the detective department sleuths.

“Three mobile phones, two routers, a WIFI device, two card readers, a pen drive, and earphones were recovered from his clothes and beddings. At the same time, the detective department sleuths recovered cash worth Rs 31,000, all in Rs 500-denominations, from Ansari’s possession. An investigation has been launched into how such items reached the cell of a notorious terrorist like Ansari, who is currently serving life imprisonment,” a city police officer said.

He added that the raid and search operations at Ansari’s cell were conducted on Friday night.

A case had already been registered at the local Hasting Police Station and on the basis of that an investigation had been initiated.

The investigating officers are not ruling out the possibility of involvement of prison officials and staff behind the development.

The main focus of investigation in the matter is persons or places where Ansari used to communicate by using these devices.