Habib Mia, the man who was arrested in a joint operation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch and the Tripura police, had allegedly provided logistical support for the 2005 Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) attack.
“It is suspected that he helped arrange weapons for the attackers,” a source said, adding that Mia is being interrogated by the CCB.
According to sources, LeT operative Sabahuddin, one of the main accused in the attack who was arrested in 2008, had told the Bengaluru police about the help rendered by Mia, a native of Agartala. Mia had also allegedly helped Sabahuddin to travel to Bangladesh to plan the attack on IISc. “Sabahuddin claims to have come in contact with Habib in Agartala,” the source said.
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A week ago, the Tripura police received information about Mia and passed it on to the Bengaluru police. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) S. Ravi assigned the ATS, attached to the CCB, to carry out the operation in Tripura in which Mia was arrested.
Apart from Sabahuddin, Mia is also alleged to have taken Abu Hamza, the man who shot at the people in IISc., around Bengaluru. “He was in charge of the logistics,” a police officer said.
The CCB are still searching for seven others involved in the case.
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IISc. was attacked on December 28, 2005, when a convention was under way. A scientist was killed and at least five people injured as attackers lobbed hand grenades and opened fire at the gathering.