The police investigating into the involvement of suspected operatives of terror outfits in a cash-snatching case here in April last has found that Abdul Halim suspected to have links with Jammu and Kashmir-based extremist organisations has a close contact with a NRI businessman from here who the police says has sent him lakhs of rupees.
Halim, who is an accused in the Kozhikode blast case, Ernakulam Collectorate blast case and in the jewellery theft case at Kizhakkambalam, had been in the custody of the police here investigating into the cash-snatching case in which he is also an accused. His custody period ended on Tuesday and he was handed over to the Crime Branch, the police here said. Halim, a close associate of Thadiyantavide Naseer, a suspected operative of the Leshkar-e-Taiba, is an accused in 12 terror-related cases.
Kannur Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Sukumaran, who is investigating into the cash snatching case said here on Tuesday that Halim had disclosed during his interrogation that the NRI businessman from the Kannur city area used to send him money allegedly for his terror-linked operations. The Dy SP also said that 35-year old Halim had also used a few women to influence witnesses in the Kashmir terror recruitment case registered at the Edakkad Police Station now being investigated by the National Investigating Agency. The Dy SP also said that Halim had also links with real estate business and intimidated some businessmen here for extortion of money, the police officer said.
The links of the cash-snatching case with terror operatives were unravelled after the interrogation of two youths arrested by the Kannur police here on April 24 last. According to the police V. Shaharas (27) from Thayyil and K.V. Muneer (25) from Puthiyatheru, the two arrested in the case of snatching of Rs. 75,000 from a group of gamblers in a hotel near Caltex Junction, had links with Halim. The police said that the duo were part of a group involved in mobilising funds for influencing the witnesses in the Kashmir terror recruitment case.
