HYDERABAD: With the arrest of Viqar Ahmed and his associates, all of whom who are members of the Saidabad-based fundamentalist outfit Darsgah Jihad-O-Shahadat (DJS), the noose appears to be tightening around its chief Shaik Mahboob Ali.
Though the State Intelligence Wing had several years ago advised the state government to ban the outfit as it was found to be indulging in anti-India propoganda, the government chose to do nothing.
According to sources, DJS reportedly receives funds from Saudi Arabia which it uses to maintain cadres. It provides lathi training to its members, which Mahboob Ali claims is for ``self defence.’’ In fact, Mahboob Ali’s grandson, Najiullah alias Najji, who has been missing from Hyderabad for several years, has reportedly joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). He is believed to have visited Chechnya and the last input on him was that he was fighting along with the mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir.Every year on Dec. 6, the DJS organises a rally from DBR Mills to Indira Park. Mahboob Ali gives a high-voltage speech in which he blasts BJP leaders and the police. Fatigue- clad children carrying toy AK-47s participate in the rally.
In the past too, some youngsters who were arrested for anti-India activities turned out to be members of DJS. When asked to comment, Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan said he will look into the matter.
In fact, when Mujahid, a youngster was killed in police firing outside the DGP’s office in 2004 while they were protesting against the arrest of Tehreek Tahfooz Sharia-e-Islam (TTSI) chief Moulana Naseeruddin, DJS activists indulged in large-scale violence and arson while taking Mujahid’s body in a procession.