Maharashtra ATS examining 19 mobile phones seized during searches in Thane

Mumbai, Jun 3 (PTI) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which conducted searches in Thane, including at the houses of some former functionaries and members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is examining the mobile phones of the suspects, officials said on Tuesday.

The ATS team along with the Thane rural police on Monday conducted a massive search operation at Borivali and Padgha in Thane district at the residences of former office-bearer Saquib Nachan and other suspected members and sympathisers of the SIMI, an official said.

"During the operation, the ATS conducted searches at the residences of 22 persons," he said, adding that besides some incriminating material and documents related to radicalisation, the ATS had seized 19 mobile phones.

All those phones are being examined with the help of cyber forensic experts to ascertain their content, he said.

"As there is a possibility of the phone data being deleted by some of the suspects earlier, the ATS officials will send all these gadgets to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Besides that, the ATS officials are also examining the seized material, recovered during the searches," he said.

Two cases under provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act were registered following the searches, he said adding that the ATS will call some of the suspects for enquiry in the coming days. PTI DC NP