Author: Kajari Bhattacharya
Publication: The Statesman
Date: August 26, 2008
URL: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=219670
In a crucial break for anti-terror agencies
in the country, Shahbaz Husain, the said "successor" to Students'
Islamic Movement of India (Simi) chief, Safdor Nagori, was arrested in Mouliviganj
of Lucknow's Aminabad area around 3.05 p.m. today. Hussain was arrested in
connection with the Jaipur serial bomb blasts carried out on 13 May.
In a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh
Police' Anti Terrorism Squad and the Rajasthan Police, Shahbaz Hussain was
nabbed nearly 10 days after another terror suspect and Simi operative, Abu
Basher of Azamgarh, was arrested here. Hussain's arrest comes after Basher's
interrogation provided leads into the Jaipur blasts, police sources said.
Hussain is said to be a close aide of Basher. Basher is supposedly the mastermind
of the 26 July Ahmedabad serial blasts. His involvement in the Jaipur blasts
is also suspected.
Police here said major leads into the Jaipur
blasts case are expected after the arrest and subsequent interrogation of
Hussain, who is said to be the brain behind the Jaipur blasts. Hussain, who
was an HR manager in a computer centre called Zyna Career Consultants in Adarsh
Market near Maharani PG College in the state capital, was produced in the
local Sessions Court here today, where he was put under 48 hours transit remand.
Police sources here said Hussain aka Shannu is a close aide of Simi chief
Safdar Nagori, who was produced in an Ahmedabad court today.
ATS sources here told The Statesman that Hussain
has been living in Lucknow for the last two years, and is originally from
Badoi district in UP.
Hussain's in-laws, interestingly, live opposite
the house of Humam Sidiqui, a lawyer who was fighting cases against Simi,
and was arrested by the ATS in June this year, an ATS source said. "Hussain
is well-educated after completing his BSc, he studied at the Indian Institute
of Mass Communication in Delhi. He was editor of Simi's magazine, Islamic
Movement," the source said. Hussain will be escorted via special chartered
flight to Jaipur by Rajasthan Police tonight.
Meanwhile, according to DIG of police (crime)
Mr Saurabh Srivastava, who was camping in Ahmedabad after the recent arrest
of 10 Simi activists, Sajid Mansuri has disclosed vital clues and links regarding
the Jaipur serial blasts during interrogation, adds SNS from Jaipur. Hussain
along with Mansuri is believed to have conducted a detailed recce of the bombing
sites before giving the final go ahead to the bomb planters. Mansuri is also
likely to be brought to Jaipur in the coming days.
