IM terrorist brought to Delhi, sent to 8-day police remand

Ahmed, who was arrested on Saturday by Anti-Terrorism Squad of UP Police from Siddarth Nagar-- about 300 kilometers from Lucknow, was brought to the capital by a Special Cell team after obtaining transit remand.

The 21-year-old man, who is an accused in the 2008 serial blasts in Delhi, was produced before Duty Magistrate Ajay Garg who sent him to police custody till March 15. Police sought ten days custody for interrogating Ahmed in order to unearth the Indian Mujahideen network, which has been involved in a series of blasts across the country.The court, however, granted only eight days for custodial interrogation.
Police claimed they have recovered a Nepali passport obtained under a fake name and an international SIM card from Ahmed's possession.

After his name cropped up in the blast cases, police claimed, he moved to Nepal, where he allegedly got the passport issued in June 2009. With the help of the passport, which was issued in the name of Mohd Fahad Ansari, the IM operative travelled to Pakistan and other countries.

Salman is believed to have gone to Pakistan in December last year and returned to Nepal in January last. Ahmed was allegedly involved in the 2007 Gorakhpur serial blasts, Varanasi court blasts and Ahmedabad serial blasts in 2008, besides the Delhi terror strike.

Ahmed alias Chottu, who carried a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, hails from Sanjarpur in Azamgarh. Police claim that he is an expert in carrying out blasts.
He is also alleged to have received training in handling weapons and explosives during his stay in Pakistan.

Ahmed had enrolled in BCA course at Lucknow campus of a private university in 2008 but completed only first year.During interrogation, police claimed, Ahmed admitted he was an active member of IM and was in regular touch with other members of the organisation. He also admitted to his involvement in several blasts in UP, Gujarat, Delhi and Rajasthan.
A team of ATS-Rajasthan will also interrogate Ahmed in connection with the May 2008 Jaipur serial bomb blasts that left 70 people dead and 186 others injured.