Two arrested Indian Mujahideen activists accept collusion with LeT

Author: Dwaipayan Ghosh
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 14, 2012
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-arrested-Indian-Mujahideen-activists-accept-collusion-with-LeT/articleshow/14868806.cms

The special cell has begun questioning the two main IM accused - Kafeel and Kamaal Ansari - after they were brought to Delhi on a 10 day remand. Their questioning has already revealed that the IM's Indian head, Yaseen Bhatkal, had entrusted them with the job of conducting recees and arranging for arms and ammunitions to the strike force that actually carried out the attacks.

``Our investigations have revealed that Kamaal had been an important constituent of the Mir Vihar factory that was producing arms for the IM to fund their terror activities,'' said a special cell officer. The probe so far has also established some striking similarities between the confessions made by LeT operative Abu Jundal regarding the IM-LeT tie-up in the country and the IM men who have been arrested so far.

According sources confirmed that raids are still on in parts of Bihar and Hyderabad to nab a couple of the most wanted IM men who doubled up as LeT agents.

The police investigation has found that Kafeel, on the other hand, was tasked with arranging logistics for the Bihar module in that state.

``Both the accused are not too high up in the IM sector. However, both are extremely close to Yaseen and hence will be important in getting some more information about his movements and past deeds,'' added the officer. The teams are also on the lookout for IM members in Kolkata, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, sources said. Officials refused to give the names of these operatives, who work for both Lashkar and IM.

Kamaal, sources claimed, has reiterated what IM operative and Yaseen's father-in-law Irshad had already told investigators - some of the arms manufactured there were being sold to local criminals. The operations were led by Irshad, who has been into the illegal arms trade for several years, the officer said.

"Shahrukh is their explosives expert, who was aided by Karachi resident Mohammad Adil. Irshad, however, was in charge of manufacturing weapons like carbines. The accused had set up lathe machines at Irshad's Shaheen Bagh residence and at his ancestral home in Samastipur in Bihar. We believe he underwent training at factories in Munger where manufacturing guns is rampant. Irshad used to procure iron among other material from north Bihar,'' he said.