In a shocking development, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials have indicated a possible terror link between missing Bollywood actress, Laila Khan, and banned Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Officials believe that Khan had helped LeT militants with the information and route maps to carry out the bomb attack on the Delhi High Court premises in 2011.
Laila was the leading lady in the movie "Waffa" produced by her father Nadir Patel and starring Rajesh Khanna. It marked her debut in Bollywood in the year 2008; however, the film turned out to be a big flop.
Nadir Patel and her movie director Rakesh Sawant have been summoned by the Mumbai ATS for questioning.
Laila abruptly disappeared from Mumbai in February last year along with her family except her father, leaving no trace of her whereabouts.
Laila allegedly scouted the Mumbai city to help Lakhkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group and was closely in contact with Parvez Iqbal Tak, who had connections with the terror outfit. LeT has unleashed terror in India several times in the past, including the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack.
Early reports suggested that Laila may have fled the country with the help of Parvez, who first reached Pakistan and from there to Dubai. However, her father has reportedly denied that his daughter is in Dubai.
The investigations into the Delhi High Court bomb blast lead the officials to a garage in the Kishtwar, where a Mitsubishi Outlander was parked that was allegedly used for ferrying explosives for terrorist attacks.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) also speculated that the terrorists had planned to use the same car again for transportation during another operation in Mumbai.
However, the Jammu and Kashmir police seized the Outlander with registration number -MH02-AY-7867- based on the IB information.
The garage was rented by Parvez Iqbal and the car was under Laila's mother Saleena Patel's name, reported TOI.
Three years ago, Laila had married Munir Khan, a member of the Bangladeshi terror outfit HUJI. It is suspected that it was through him that she came in contact with LeT, according to a CNN IBN report.
Sources said that Laila left the city at the behest of her handler and set her bungalow on fire in Igatpuri, in a deal to destroy evidences before leaving the country.
However, anti-terrorism agencies have launched manhunts for Laila and Parvez, who continue to evade law enforcement officers.
After the alleged terror links of Laila came to light, one question that has been on everyone's mind is: What was our Indian intelligence and security agencies doing all these time, when the terrorists were engaged in a serious terror business in our country?
The Indian intelligence and security agencies have been constantly reactive instead of being proactive against terrorism in the country over the years.
Many terror informants and members have flown in and out of the country in the past in a deal to help the terrorist groups for planning attacks. Laila's case has just thrown more light on holes in our security system.
