Faizan Sultan's arrest expected to throw light on IM's operations

Sultan, who was produced before a special judge and remanded to NIA custody, was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport

The arrest of suspected Indian Mujhaideen terrorist Faizan Ahmed Sultan is expected to throw light on the banned terror group's operation being handled from Gulf countries.

55-year-old Sultan, who was produced before a special judge and remanded to NIA custody, was arrested here yesterday by the probe agency at Indira Gandhi International Airport after he was deported from Sharjah.

The operation was carried out by central security agencies in collaboration with authorities in Gulf as the accused was wanted in various cases in India for alleged criminal conspiracy, for waging war against country, raising funds for terrorist act, terrorist acts and recruiting persons for terrorist act, sources said.

An Interpol Red Corner notice was issued against him to secure his provisional arrest in Sharjah. NIA arrested him in connection with the 2012 case which relates to the larger conspiracy of the operatives of the proscribed terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen to wage war against the country.

NIA has filed two charge sheets in this case against nine people including Mohammed Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi.

Sultan, originally a resident of Devapare of Azamgargh district in Uttar Pradesh, had escaped four to five years back from Mumbai.

He is believed to have fled to Nepal where he was provided with fake passport by ISI handlers and later taken to Pakistan for arms training.

A Non Bailable Warrant was earlier issued against the Sultan on February 11, 2014 by the Special NIA court.

NIA said in a statement that Sultan is being investigated for allegedly having harboured other absconding IM operatives and providing assistance to the banned terrorist outfit by raising funds.