A day after the reported arrest in Bangladesh of a prime suspect, Abu Hamza, in the recent Hyderabad terror attack, the Indian government appeared to have received no official confirmation about it from Dhaka as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee sought the Bangladesh government’s cooperation in the matter.

“We seek their (Bangladesh) cooperation,” in bringing to book terrorists operating against India from Bangladesh territory, Mukherjee told newsmen when his attention was drawn on the reported arrest of Mohammad Sharifuddin at Dhaka on Monday.

Mukherjee did not confirm if the reported arrest was true or confirmed to the Indian government by Dhaka.
Abu Hamza alias Sharifuddin is suspected to be a key operative of the Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) whose role is suspected in the twin blasts in Hyderabad on August 25. Sharifuddin is believed to be a key aide of Abdul Shahid Mohammad, also known as Bilal whose hand is suspected in the recent terrorist attacks in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Intelligence officials in Hyderabad and here suspect that Sharifuddin had carried out the bomb blasts in Hyderabad and then escaped to Bangladesh where he was reportedly picked by Bangladeshi authorities.
Without going to the details, Mukherjee told newsmen that at the last month’s Home Secretary level meetings of the two countries, the Indian side had given to the Bangladesh details of some Bangladesh-based individuals and outfits who have been suspected to be active in carrying out terrorist attacks in India.

Analysts here have expressed surprise that Delhi had no confirmation of the reported arrest since India has acked the interim administration in Dhaka with a view to seek its anti-terror cooperation.

COPS FERRET CALLS TO PAK
Hyderabad, pti: The Special Investigation Team of the Andhra Pradesh police probing the recent twin blasts here, is in the process of collecting information about the phone calls made to Pakistan and Bangladesh a day before and after the bombings on August 25.

Thirty-five calls were made to Pakistan and Bangladesh in three days from August 24, an official in the SIT said here on Tuesday. While 25 calls were made using cellphones, 10 were from telephone booths on August 24, 25 and 26, he said.

RDX at large
Meanwhile, the police have continued their search for the missing RDX which was brought to the city in February last. About 100 police teams, each comprising four or five members, have fanned out across the state capital to trace the deadly explosive material. In the backdrop of heightened threat perception, tight security arrangements were made at ISKCON and other Krishna temples, which witnessed heavy rush of devotees for Janmashtami.