A key operative of the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) was arrested on Friday morning from Indira Gandhi International airport by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials. He had been deported from Dubai.
Abdul Wahid alias Siddibapa is a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka. He was arrested in Abu Dhabi in 2014 and has been in detention since then. He was wanted in connection with an IM conspiracy to organise terror attacks across India, officials said.
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The National Intelligence Agency on Friday said it had received information about the arrival of a key Indian Mujahideen operative from a foreign country and accordingly teams were deployed to arrest him.
Abdul Wahid alias Siddibapa is a close relative of Riyaz Bhatkal, IM founder, and provided tactical, material and financial support to members in planning, preparing and organising terrorist activities.
A court had issued warrant against him and a Red Notice was also issued against him on December 3, 2013. “Abdul Wahid was also involved in identifying and recruiting/inducting new members for the proscribed organisation IM. He was playing a very important role in raising funds for running the organisation and for commission of terrorist acts in India. He is one of the oldest and senior most members of IM,” said the official.
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In an application in a city court, the NIA sought 15 days custody of Wahid, submitting that he was in Dubai and had assumed the name of Khan and he was an important cadre of IM organisation for regularly transferring funds from Pakistan to UAE and then to India for terror activities here. He was sent to seven days custody by the court.