New Delhi: The Special Cell of the Delhi Police have arrested Abdul Subhan Qureshi, wanted in connection with multiple terror cases, including the 2008 Gujarat serial blasts and the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. Qureshi (30) is said to be a founding member of terror outfit – Indian Mujahideen.
He was arrested on Saturday after a brief exchange of fire between him and police. Police have recovered a pistol and 14 live cartridges from him.
He carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head, declared by the National Investigative Agency. He had worked as an English teacher in Nepal for a while.
"We got a tip-off that he would be visiting his acquaintance in Ghazipur. Acting on that tip off he was arrested. He came to India a few days ago and was residing in Uttar Pradesh," said Pramod Kushwaha, DCP Special Cell.
Qureshi was also wanted for conducting a three-day training camp at Vagamon in Kottayam district, Kerala, where he underwent a course in physical training, arms training including firing practice, rope climbing, rock climbing, motorbike racing and manufacture of petrol bombs. The case was initially registered with the Kerala Police in 2008, before being handed over to the NIA in 2010.
According to Special Cell, Qureshi was indoctrinating the unemployed youth to fill the space left void by the fall of top leaders of Indian Mujahedeen. "He was plannjng the revival of the weak and scattered network of Indian Mujahedeen," Kushwah said.
The alleged terrorist is also accused of making speeches about jihad in India and inciting participants to wage war against the country.
A graduate of Antonio DeSouza High School in 1988, Qureshi belongs to a well-educated family in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.
The married man, who has three children, had quit his job in 2001 and wrote a letter saying, “I wish to inform you that I have decided to devote one complete year to pursue religious and spiritual matters."
In 1995, after completing his education, he started attending weekly programs of SIMI and came in contact with Riyaz Bhatkal, who was a student jn Byculla college, Mumbai. By 2000, he became highly radicalised.
During interrogation, it has emerged that during his stay in Nepal he procured a fake local ID through Nizam Khan, a SIMI sympathiser who ran an NGO - Nepal Development Society. He stayed in Nepal till 2015 and again came in touch with Bhatkal.
Bhatkal motivated him to come to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. to arrange finances and reviving IM.He procured a nepali passport and went to Saudi Arabia in February- March 2015.
"For cover he started working as a salesman in various stores and also started meeting with SIMI | IM sympathisers," Kushwaha said.
Police said more will be revealed after the interrogation is over.
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