Interpol to verify Hamza's arrest

NEW DELHI: The government is trying to verify reports about the arrest in Bangladesh of Huji leader Mohammad Sharifuddin alias Abu Hamza, one of the masterminds behind the Mecca Masjid attack and the recent twin blasts in Hyderabad.

CBI sources said the agency is in touch with Interpol to try and establish the identity of the terror operative arrested by the Dhaka police last week. The government too, through its own sources, is verifying if the detainee is actually Sharifuddin alias Hamza.

A confirmation would be a major breakthrough for the security agencies and the CBI, which is investigating the Mecca Masjid blasts, as it will help them establish the terror trail from Hyderabad to Bangladesh with regard to three major attacks: on the special task force office, Mecca Masjid as well at the Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat shop.

As of now, there is no red corner notice against Sharifuddin. Once his identity has been verified, the ministry of external affairs will have to activate diplomatic channels to secure his deportation from Bangladesh. However, given the past case of mistaken identity involving Abdul Karim Tunda, the Indian agencies are reacting with caution to the latest arrest and avoiding a formal reaction until the verification exercise is complete.

Sharifuddin is wanted in the Mecca Masjid blasts as well as the special task force office blasts in Hyderabad. Suspected of having been involved in planning and execution of at least three blasts in the city, including the recent blasts, Sharifuddin was allegedly working under instructions from Huji commander Shahid alias Bilal, and had provided logistic support to the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks.

Sharifuddin’s movements were under surveillance for some time now. It was on a tip-off from RAW, which had been intercepting him in various chatrooms on the internet, that the Bangladesh authorities traced Hamza and detained him.

The name of Sharifuddin alias Abu Hamza came to the notice of Indian security agencies when the two persons accused in the October 12 Begumpet Task Force Office blast case — Nafeequl Biswas and Hilaluddin alias Suhaag Khan — confessed that Hamza was involved in the blasts, and was recruiting innocent youth from India.

His alleged role in the Mecca Masjid blasts was unearthed during the questioning of Abdul Sattar, arrested in May this year. Sattar is said to have disclosed that Hamza, under instructions for commanders like Bilal, had managed the planning and execution of the attack. Sharifuddin, according to agency reports, uses code-names ‘Hamza’ and ‘Kanchan’ and extends support to HuJI and other Pakistan-based militant groups for monetary gains.

The Hyderabad police, who are investigating the twin blasts case, on Sunday booked a case of criminal conspiracy and waging war against the nation against 15 persons including Sharifuddin. The police also suspect that Sharifuddin was behind the attack on the Special Task Force of the Andhra Pradesh police in 2005.

India and Bangladesh recently decided to set up a joint mechanism for sharing intelligence after the Indo-Bangla home secretary-level talks that took place last month. The two sides had vowed to take action against terrorists taking shelter in each other’s countries.

However, there has not been any forward movement on the issue. New Delhi has been putting pressure on Dhaka to take action against terror groups which are operating within Bangladesh. The Bangladesh caretaker government, which has been carrying out a widespread anti-corruption drive, is yet to take any concrete action against terror elements.