The police on Friday arrested Jameel Suffikal, 23, of Bihar on the charge of facilitating the stay of Pakistan national and Indian Mujahideen commander Zia-ur-Rehman (Waqas) and Tehseen Akhtar, another operative, in Munnar.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) V.N. Saji told The Hindu that Jameel was arrested from a cottage in Munnar. The officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were already in Munnar and they had started questioning the accused, the officer said.
Jameel ran a teashop in Munnar. He arranged the stay for Waqas in the town from November 2013 to January 2014.
The police were on the lookout for him after Waqas, Akhtar, and two other operatives were arrested, Mr. Saji said.
(A special cell of the Delhi Police arrested Waqas on March 22 from Ajmar in Rajasthan and Akthar from the Indo-Nepal border). It was reliably learnt that Jameel was arrested from Eight Land, a cottage on New Colony Road in Munnar late Thursday.
Jameel had gone underground after the arrest of Waqas and it was learnt that he had stayed in Mumbai and Gujarat during the period, the police said. Prior to starting the teashop, he had worked as a chef in some restaurants in Munnar. Jameel left Munnar after the owner of the building which housed the teashop sought his identity card, the police said.
The State police intelligence told the owner that they should be informed whenever Jameel turned up. Jameel came back on February 15 and police were informed. He but left on February 18.
The Delhi Police had brought Waqas and Akhtar to Munnar on April 5 for evidence collection. A team led by Circle Inspector, Munnar, Shanimon made the arrest. Reportedly, the owner of the cottage gave him a room and locked it from outside before informing the police.
