New Delhi, October 10
The Mumbai police has unearthed a plot to cause harm to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani with the arrest of six gangsters of the Chhota Shakeel gang, Home Ministry sources said here today.

The persons arrested in connection with the plot are Akbar Hussain arrested at Bangalore on October 6, Mohd Zakir and Mohd Hanif arrested at Chennai on October 6 while Javed Khan, Sirinivas Moonuswamy Naidu and Mohd Sadik were nabbed at Mumbai a couple of days ago.

Detailed investigations have revealed that Chhota Shakeel had offered a huge amount of money to Mumbai-based associates for drawing up the plan.

Intelligence inputs revealed that the gang members involved in the conspiracy were to change their hideouts at Mumbai and Chennai and also cellular phones with SIM cards seized indicated preparation for the final operation, they said.

Documents recovered from Mohd Zakir carried the name of Mr Advani at two places, the sources said adding that it was also revealed that Akbar Hussain also visited Lucknow during the third week of September. The Union Home Minister was expected to arrive in Lucknow on September 23.