Man with alleged links to 26/11 Mumbai attacks, arrested by Kolkata Police for trying to plot attack on Abhishek Banerjee

Kolkata Police Special Task Force and the detective department have arrested a man named Rajaram Rege from Mumbai on Monday for purportedly hatching a conspiracy to target Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Rege is suspected to have done the recce of Banerjee’s place during his visit to Kolkata recently, had allegedly taken pictures of his house and the neighbourhood, claimed officials.

Rege, known for his political links in Maharashtra, was also named by 26/11 Mumbai attack accused David Headley in one of his testimonies. While Rege hasn’t been arrested by police since then but his role has been under the scanner in connection with the 26/11 attacks.

"Today our officers arrested Rajaram Rege from Mumbai. He had visited Kolkata last week, stayed here, and conducted a recce of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's offices and residence. He obtained the mobile phone numbers of Banerjee and his PA and tried to contact them," said Additional Commissioner of Police Murlidhar Sharma. Rege has been brought to Kolkata on remand, produced before court and now in Police custody.

This came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday during a public meeting claimed that her and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s lives were under threat, alleging that BJP could go to any extent to capture power. While she was countering to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s “big explosion that would shake up TMC senior leadership” jibe, police claimed the arrest was of serious nature and they are trying to unearth the bigger conspiracy, if any.

"It (the recce) is an indication that something similar to 26/11 could have happened. There could be a big conspiracy. We have to check whether there is any such plan or not. We are trying to get CCTV footage to check his movements. We are trying to find out how Rege procured the MP's mobile number and why he was trying to contact him. We are also trying to find out who he had met during his stay here”, said the Additional Commissioner on Monday, while adding that several documents have been seized from his possession.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee is covered by Z-plus security provided by the state. While he hasn’t issued any comments as yet, TMC is linking the arrest with the remarks of Suvendu Adhikari’s ‘big explosion’ threat. “Today a 26/11 Mumbai terror attack-like incident has been busted, thanks to the Kolkata Police. It was planned on our leader Abhishek Banerjee. The person arrested was involved in the Mumbai terror attack also. Police have enough evidence that he also approached some people,” said TMC MP Derek O’Brien.