Maharashtra minister denies links with Abu Jundal

Mumbai: Maharashtra's Minister of State for Education Fauzia Khan on Tuesday denied any links with arrested 26/11 terrorist Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari.

Khan's denial came after allegations that Jundal, an Indian mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, allegedly spent a day in a room belonging to Khan at the old legislators' hostel near Mantralaya in 2009. Khan was then a member of Legislative Council.

"Many people stay at my government accommodation and it is not possible for me to be aware of the credentials of every one of them," said Khan while reacting to the allegation.

Maharashtra\'s Minister of State for Education Fauzia Khan has denied any links with arrested 26/11 terrorist Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari.

She, however, conceded to fully cooperating with the police in the investigation. "I have no idea why my name is being dragged into this. I do not know Jundal," Khan told media persons.

"I am ready to face any kind of inquiry to clear my name. I have nothing to do with the terrorist," she added.

Jundal, a native of Beed district in Maharashtra, stayed in Pakistan for some time before leaving for Saudi Arabia where he was working as a teacher. Khan is from the same area.

Jundal, who has at least 10 aliases, was one of six people who were holed up in a "control room" in Karachi and directing the audacious Mumbai attack by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008. The carnage left 166 people dead.

He was one of those who were heard on radio intercepts directing the terrorists to their targets in Mumbai and telling them who to kill. He had trained the killers to speak Hindi.

It came to light Monday that Jundal, an alleged member of the Indian Mujahideen group, was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on June 21 after his deportation from Saudi Arabia. A court sent him to 15 days police custody.

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