Life resumes for Mumbra man released in ATS probe

Mumbai; Hours after Maharashtra ATS released Gulfam Ansari on Friday, after questioning him in its probe against arrested alleged Islamic State (IS) suspect, Nazim Shamshad Ahmed, who had stayed with him in Mumbra for the past several months, Ansari seemed to have got back to his normal routine. Ansari left his residence to sell eggs, his neighbours in Samadhan building, Rashid Compound, told The Asian Age.

According to Ansari’s neighbours, after his release, he said that he had only allowed Ahmed to share his flat after the latter approached him months ago while looking for accommodation. Ansari asked Ahmed to assist him in his work as egg seller and cold drinks vendor. Ahmed allegedly moved from Bijnor in UP to Thane. Abrar, another man who was picked up along with Ansari and Ahmed by ATS in an operation conducted jointly with Uttar Pradesh ATS, was released as well and left for his home in UP.

While ATS has released Ansari and Abrar with whom the arrested accused Ahmed had been staying, Ansari’s neighbour, Jafar Shaikh, said, “We saw the flat was open in the morning, when we all gathered and asked them what happened. He told us that Ahmed was searching for accommodation when he came to Ansari and Ahmed was from the same village as Ansari, which is why Ansari allowed Ahmed to stay at his house and help with his business.”