Sena dares govt to capture Dawood in Osama-like operation

Questions the point of following Dawood's movements without initiating action against him

Taking a swipe at the Centre following the release of a tape claiming Dawood Ibrahim's presence in Karachi, the Shiv Sena today dared the government to undertake an operation to capture the evasive underworld don just as the US forces had eliminated terror leader Osama Bin Laden.

The Sena, a constitent of ruling NDA, questioned the point of following Dawood's movements without initiating action against him.

"Dreaded terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim are living in Pakistan comfortably and are under political care. We do not need proof to prove that fact. No other country except Pakistan can give abode to such people," the Sena said in its editorial mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

We have been asking the Pakistani government to hand over these fugitive gangsters for the past many years, it said, adding, "But can the Indian government show the same audacity towards Dawood Ibrahim, the way US did with (Osama Bin) Laden?," the Sena asked.

The government had on Saturday asked Pakistan to hand over Dawood Ibrahim, saying the Indian government has given enough evidence against him to Islamabad.

The Sena said the "watching game" between India and terrorists hiding in Pakistan will continue unabated and will yield no results.

"Our government says it is keeping a watch on their activities. What purpose will it serve ? These terrorists have kept their eye on India as well. This watching game has been happening for many years and will continue in the future," it said.

In Lucknow, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to hand over Dawood to it.

"Wait and Watch," Singh had said without elaborating, when asked about when India can get hold of him.

Dawood, India's most wanted terrorist after Saeed, is the mastermind of the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai that claimed over 250 lives.