Cuttack, Dec. 29: The crime branch's Special Task Force (STF) has gathered enough evidence against Abdul Rahman, the city-based cleric who had been arrested last year for his alleged links with several terror organisations.
A senior STF official told The Telegraph that Rahman had allegedly worked as a co-ordinator between al Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and other terror outfits based in Pakistan. His links with other terror outfits, including Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT) surfaced during interrogation by a special team of Delhi police.
Yesterday, the STF submitted a 572-page charge sheet before the JMFC court at Salepur, and the crime branch is hopeful of a fast trial in connection with the case.
Special director-general of police B.K. Sharma said Rahman had travelled to Dubai, and without visa, he had moved into Pakistan on a special aircraft with assistance from the ISI. Later, after arriving in Karachi, Rahman had travelled by road to meet LeT chief Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi inside a jail near Lahore.
"We have collected ample evidences regarding the entire travel plans, including air tickets, as well as credible information regarding his tour to Pakistan," said Sharma.
The 37-year-old Rahman was arrested from Paschimagacha village in Jagatpur police limits in a pre-dawn operation by a joint team of Delhi and Odisha police on December 16, 2015.
He was nabbed after the counter terrorism unit of Delhi had nabbed Mohammad Asif, one of the key operatives of AQIS.
Subsequently, five other operatives of the AQIS modules were held from different parts of the country, including Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Banglore, in January by Delhi police.
A senior official of the crime branch said Rahman mostly acted as a facilitator and his role was restricted towards recruitment of youths, mostly the young children, through his Tangi-based madarsa. Rahman, popularly known as Kataki, was also involved in recruiting youth through his hate and provocative speeches in different parts of the country, including Jharkhand.
