Al-Qaeda operative running terror camp in Jharkhand forest, claim Delhi police

Delhi Police on Friday claimed before a court that suspected al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operative Maulana Abdul Rehman Kasmi has set up a training base for terror activities "somewhere in Jharkhand forests" and the investigators are ascertaining it.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police informed the court that Kasmi, who was arrested on December 17 last year in the case for allegedly radicalising youths and propagating the terror agenda of the outfit, had set up a training base which was yet to be located.

"There are specific inputs that Maulana Abdul Rehman Kasmi, in cooperation with others, has set up a training base somewhere in Jharkhand forests which is yet to be located. The investigation in this aspect is at an advanced stage and teams are examining several leads to corroborate the inputs," the police said in its plea seeking extension of period of probe into the case till June 10.

The police also alleged that there were specific inputs that wanted accused Abu Sufiyan, a resident of Jharkhand, had travelled to Pakistan along with arrested accused Mohd Sami.

It claimed that Sufiyan has returned after receiving training at Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and AQIS facilities and his apprehension was crucial to find out the missing links of the larger conspiracy.

Police said that some associates of Kasmi have been arrested by Jharkhand police in January and their interrogation has revealed many new facts regarding his role in motivating and recruiting youths for LeT and AQIS.

It said forensic report of mobile phones of arrested accused along with details of their Facebook accounts was awaited and search for 12 wanted accused in the case was on.

During the hearing, advocate M S Khan, who appeared for two of the five arrested accused, opposed the plea saying that request by police was not bona fide and the grounds mentioned in the application were not sustainable.

The court, however, allowed the plea of Special Cell and extended the period of investigation in the case till June 10. Besides Kasmi and Sami, the other three arrested accused in the case are Syed Anzar Shah, Mohammed Asif and Zafar Masood. These accused are currently in judicial custody.

They were arrested for allegedly trying to radicalise youths for terror activities in India. They have been booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.