The NIA has arrested Muhammad Manzar Imam in a case involving Muhammad Danish Ansari in New Delhi registered in September 2012 for being members of banned outfit Indian Mujahideen, and conspiring and waging war against the country.
He was transferred from Ernakulam District Jail to New Delhi last week for interrogation. The arrested was made on Tuesday. Imam was first arrested here in Vagamon SIMI camp case in March. In the transit warrant submitted before the NIA Special Court in Kochi, the NIA said Imam has to be interrogated in the case India Government vs Muhammad Danish Ansari and Co.
The NIA has charged the case under Section 121 (A) of the IPC for conspiring against the Government of India, Section 123 of the IPC for facilitating to wage war against the country and Sections 17, 18, and 18 (B) for recruiting people for terrorist activities.
Other accused in the case are Yasin Bhatkal, Riaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Amir Reza Khan, Mohammed Danish Ansari, Mohd Aftab Alam (both from Bihar), Imran Khan, Syed Maqbool (both from Maharashtra) and Obaid-ur-Rehman (Andhra Pradesh).
The NIA had filed a chargesheet at the NIA court in New Delhi in the case a few months back. The NIA suspect that Muhammad Danish Ansari is a key associate of Yasin Bhatkal and had arranged his hideouts. Imam had recruited youth from Bihar and Jharakhand for terrorist acts. Imam, along with Yasin Bhatkal and Riaz Bhatkal, was planning terror strikes in various places, including New Delhi.
According to NIA officials, they had a main hand in setting up an IM module in Jharkhand. Other accused in the case, Alam, is an accused in various terror attacks, including the bomb blasts at Pune’s German Bakery and Bangalore Chinnawamy Stadium. As per the directions of Riaz Bhatkal, Imran Khan had reconnoitred various spots in Hyderabad for bomb blasts. He was assisted by Syed Maqbool. Obaid-ur-Rehman is suspected to have links with Riaz Bhatkal.