Post News Network
Cuttack: The Crime Branch (CB) police have made preparations to bring suspected Al-Qaeda operative Abdur Rehman, arrested by Delhi police from Paschimakuchha under Jagatpur police limits, on a few days’ remand in connection with the operation of international terrorist organisation in the state.
The CB had sought the permission of Salipur judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) to bring Rehman on a 15-day remand. Sources said the Salipur JMFC court has allowed the CB to take Rehman on a 15-day remand starting May 25.
“The Salipur JMFC court has recommended to the Tis Hazari court in New Delhi to allow the CB of Orissa police to take Rehman on a remand for interrogation. Two police officials have been deputed to New Delhi to submit the recommendations before the Tis Hazari courts,” said a senior CB official.
According to sources, the special task force (STF) of CB will interrogate Rehman on his association with Al-Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). “Rehman’s interrogation will reveal Al-Qaeda and ISI operations in the state. We have elicited the information that Rehman had links with a few extremists in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Dubai and London,” said special director general of police (crime) Bijay Kumar Sharma.
Rehman was operating a seminary in Tangi in Cuttack district. Around 70 students from neighbouring Jharkhand and a few from Orissa had been admitted to the seminary. Rehman was allegedly radicalising the students with the ‘‘ideology of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist outfits’’ through electronic devices, sources said.
A team of Delhi police with the help of commissionerate police had arrested Rehman from his residence December 15 last year. A passport, several electronic devices including a tablet, CDs and Islamic books were seized from his possession.
“Rehman was in-charge of Al-Qaeda’s wings in Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Jharkhand police had taken him on remand for a few days ago for interrogation,” Sharma said.
