IM top man Akhtar was planning terror strike in Delhi: Police

Indian Mujahideen's top operative Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu was planning to carry out a terror strike in the national capital with the help of his associates, the Delhi Police has told a court here.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police stated this while seeking remand of Akhtar, one of the alleged masterminds of string of terror attacks in the country. Akhtar is presently in police custody till April 2.

The police told the court that Akhtar, who was arrested from near Kakarvitta Indo-Nepal border in Darjeeling district of West Bengal on March 25, has disclosed that he was involved in a number of terror attacks in the country.

"Presently, he (Akhtar) was planning a terrorist strike in Delhi along with other members of the IM," the police said in its plea seeking remand of Akhtar.

The special cell said Akhtar will be taken to different states of the country to "trace" and apprehend other wanted accused in the case.

"He (Akhtar) is required to be interrogated at length to unearth the entire conspiracy," it said, adding that he and other members of the IM were trying to destabilise the harmony in the country.

Police had told the court that Akhtar, a top bomb-maker of IM, was also required to be confronted with one of his top associate Zia-ur-Rehman alias Waqas, a Pakistani national who was arrested on March 22, and others.

According to the police, Akhtar was heading IM after the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of the terror outfit.

Akhtar was wanted by security agencies for his alleged roles in a string of terror strikes, including the July 7, 2013 Bodh Gaya Blasts and the October 27 last year blasts in Patna.