SIMI ‘financier’ held in Bhopal

Summary

The ATS of the Madhya Pradesh Police arrested SIMI operative Gulrez Mustafa just outside the Bhopal railway station.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Madhya Pradesh Police arrested SIMI operative Gulrez Mustafa just outside the Bhopal railway station on Sunday, when a police team from Delhi was bringing back key SIMI member Abu Faisal, alias Doctor, who was arrested in December.

Besides raising money for the organisation and working as a conduit between at least three different modules, Mustafa is alleged to have provided shelter to Faisal and given him over Rs 1 lakh after the latter escaped, along with five other accomplices, from the Khandwa jail in October last year. 

Faisal, who was re-arrested in December, is being investigated for his alleged links with the Indian Mujahideen and for his suspected role in several terror acts. The Delhi Police Special Cell had taken Faisal’s custody last week, and he was brought back to Bhopal on Sunday.

ATS officials said they had received a tip-off about the likely presence of a SIMI operative near the railway station. The ATS has been given custody of Mustafa, a resident of Indore, till May 5.

The ATS said Mustafa’s presence near the station when Faisal was being brought back to Bhopal needed further investigation. No weapon was found on Mustafa.

ATS chief Sanjeev Shami said Mustafa was a key link between the SIMI modules in Solapur, Ujjain and Rajasthan. While he did not elaborate on the source of funds, he said Mustafa had been funding all the three modules for some time.

Asked about speculation that Mustafa was involved in the Patna blasts, the ATS said there was no evidence yet.

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SIMI ‘financier’ held in Bhopal