Pune: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating alleged links between software professional Zubair Hangargekar and banned terror outfit Al-Qaida. The 37-year-old IT engineer from Pune was arrested on October 27 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
According to the ATS, multiple international contact numbers were found on Hangargekar’s mobile phones, including one from Pakistan, several from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. While no international calls were traced, investigators said Hangargekar failed to give satisfactory explanations for saving the numbers.
Authorities recovered nearly 1 TB of data from his electronic devices. Among the material retrieved were an Urdu translation of Osama bin Laden’s speech and an issue of Inspire Magazine, which contained sections on firearms training and instructions for making improvised explosive devices. A technical report on the bomb-making content has been submitted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s High Energy Materials Research Laboratory in Pune.
The ATS further alleged that Hangargekar attempted to recruit individuals into Al-Qaida through Quranic lectures and discussions on Khilafat in the Kondhwa area. After his arrest, one of his associates allegedly destroyed documents at a madrasa, an act captured on CCTV and now under forensic review.
Investigators are also examining his financial records for possible fundraising for terror activities. Despite ongoing interrogation, Hangargekar told the court he was not being allowed enough rest. The court instructed ATS officials to ensure adequate sleep for the accused.
