Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 12: During the interrogation of P A Saleem alias Raisal, who was arrested from Kannur in Kerala, the investigating authorities have found that he had links with Wali alias Rehan alias Rashid Obaidulla, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative operating from Pakistan, and head of Indian Mujahideen, Riaz Bhatkal.

Saleem's arrest has also brought to the fore information that seven terrorists whose hideouts the police personnel are trying to find out, are conspiring to set off terrorist activities all over the country again. These seven were the ones who had helped in organizing blasts in the city a few years back. Investigating officials stated that they are also involved with terrorist organizations based in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

It is said that Saleem Ali revealed during his questioning that Rashid Obaidulla of Lashkar-e-Taiba had instructed the terrorists to be prepared to indulge in destructive activities like organizing blasts at several places in addition to strengthening the organization in Kerala.

The police are trying to verify reports about Saleem Ali having been trained under Obaidulla who is currently holed up in Gulistan near Faisalabad, Pakistan. They have got information that Saleem was communicating with Ayub alias K P Shabir from Marakkarandi, Kannur, Kerala, who is currently hiding in Afghanistan, and Saleem alias Mubashir Shahid alias Yahya from Karachi. The investigating officials also say that he was also in contact with Jahid from Hamaria, Balgladesh and Shoaib alias Faisal from Pappinassery Kondat in Kerala. They too are currently hiding in some foreign destinations. The accused also was in contact with Riaz Bhatkal, as well as Ali alias Isha alias Ali Abdul Aziz Hooti who is hiding in Muscat now. The police team has got 14 days custody of the arrested accused after he was presented in the first additional chief metropolitan magistrate's court here.

Saleem had been hiding in the Gulf countries after the serial bomb blasts rocked the city in 2008. In the recent years, he was lying low in Kannur. On the basis of information provided by Abdul Jabbar alias Sattar during the investigation, National Investigation Agency and Research and Analysis Wing had been watching out for Saleem. The CCB arrested him based on information provided by these agencies.

The central crime branch police had been able to arrest only 20 out of 32 accused in the 2008 blasts case in the city. The police were alerted again recently after officials of National Investigation Agency arrested Kausar of Jamaat Mujahideen Bangladesh, who was hiding in Ramanagara. The CCB police, in an operation, based on information collected during the renewed investigation into the said serial bomb blasts, arrested Saleem who was hiding in a Kannur forest.