Cuttack: The trial of Abdul Rehman, a cleric with alleged al Qaida terrorist link, started in the court of sessions judge here on Tuesday, nearly two years after his arrest.

Rehman, 38, is facing charges for indulging in unlawful and undesirable terrorist activities, raising war against the state and spotting potential for jihadi activities in the guise of running a madarsa.

A joint team of Delhi and Odisha police arrested him from his village, Paschimagacha, in the city's Jagatpur police limits on December 16, 2015. His arrest followed the counter-terrorism unit's success in nabbing Mohammad Asif, one of the key operatives of al Qaida in Indian sub-continent.

The state crime branch's special task force later took up the case after registering one against Rehman. It submitted nearly a 500-page charge sheet before a Salipur court on December 28 last year. Later, the court of sessions Judge, Cuttack, framed charges against him on September 13.

Public prosecutor Ajit Patnaik said: "The trial of Abdul Rehman started on Tuesday with the examination of one prosecution witness - Salim Khan alias Ramjani."

Before framing of charges against Rehman, the sessions court had rejected his petition for being discharged of the case. He filed the discharge petition, alleging that the CID-crime branch had no concrete evidence against him. But, the trial court had taken note that the charge sheet had already been filed in the case.

Sources said the charge sheet indicated that Rahman had allegedly acted mostly as facilitator and his role was restricted towards recruitment of youths through his Tangi-based madarsa.

Rehman, popularly known as Kataki, allegedly used hate and provocative speeches to recruit youth.