Rourkela: The four Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) terrorists, who were arrested from Quresi Mohalla here Tuesday night, were close aides of Yasin Bhatkal, founder of Indian Mujahedeen and mastermind of a number of serial blasts in Mumbai and other cities, two senior officials of Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra, who were on a visit to the place Sunday, said.
There were a total of six members in the gang. They were involved in the explosion at a parking place of an industry in Pune July 10, 2014. Seven persons were critically injured in the explosion. The offenders had left a motorcycle loaded with bombs at the place which exploded later. On the same day, they had parked another motorcycle with bombs in its dickey at a bus-stand near the place. However, their plan did not materialise.
The ATS, on the basis of CCTV footage, had issued posters throughout the city of Pune and declared cash prizes for information regarding the militants. Fearing arrest, the six members fled to Telangana. On a tip-off, Telangana police conducted a raid and killed two of them – Izaz Uddin and Md Aslam – in an encounter.
The four others – Sheik Mehboob, Amjad Khan, Zakir Hussain and Mohammed Sadiq – who were arrested here, later exploded bombs at a public rally of Narendra Modi at Patna in Bihar with the help of Haider Ali of Bihar. Later, they fled Patna and were staying at Quresi Mohalla here, the ATS officials added.
The ATS officials had prayed before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate’s court to take the accused on a 15-day remand.
The team members interrogated Md Osman, who had given his house to the operatives of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) on rent. They also interacted with a grocer and other neighbourhood people.
The woman, who used to visit Najma Bibi, mother of one of the radicals, was also quizzed by the officers. They later visited a brass utensil shop, in which Md Osman’s son used to work and questioned the shopkeeper.
According to sources, the officers had gleaned important information during their visit.
Apart from ATS officials, a three-member police team from Khandua police station in Madhya Pradesh, along with Telangana police, visited Quresi Mohalla Sunday.
The rented house, in which the SIMI operatives were staying, was sealed and police forces have been deployed in the area.
PNN
