Obaid in touch with Pakistan-based handler?

The Pakistan- based handler of the terror module busted across three states was directly in touch with Hyderabadi Obaid-Ur-Rehman, top sources disclosed.

Obaid was given instructions by his Pakistani handler to provide accommodation and other logistics when the four terror suspects from Nanded, Maharashtra, arrived in Hyderabad, to conduct a recce of their targets— the three corporators.

A national investigation agency team led by IG Dr Ravishankar Ayyanar is already camping in Bangalore.

Sources told Express that Obaid had come in contact with the handler, said to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) cadre, through Mohammed Akram, the man from Nanded arrested in Bangalore, a couple of days ago.

Akram, who was in Saudi Arabia for the last one year, had come in contact with members of different outfits including Lashkar.

 He was then tagged on to the Karachi-based handler, who was initially in touch with Akram.

 Subsequently, during one of Akram’s conversations, he introduced Obaid to the handler after which, he started giving instructions to the Hyderabadi youngster.

 About four months ago, when the four youngsters from Nanded including Akram arrived in the city, they were received by Obaid and accommodated in a safe house.

 ‘False Identity’

‘’All the four had changed their names. Prior to their visit to the city, the Pakistani handler, who also goes by many aliases, had called Obaid to arrange the logistics,’’ sources said, adding that the Pakistani angle is clearly established.

The group from Nanded along with Akram then conducted recce of the houses of the three corporators, got well-versed with their movements and related details during their stay of over 15 days.

‘Training in Pakistan’

Sources added that once the operation of targeting the three corporators would be through, the Pakistani handler had reportedly assured Obaid that he would be taken to Saudi Arabia and then to Pakistan for militant training.

All of them idolised HuJI commander Abdul Shahid alias Bilal, who was allegedly killed in Pakistan.