Seventh Indian Mujahideen terrorist arrested in Bihar

Purnia (Bihar), Dec.6 (ANI) A joint team of security officials, comprising officers of the Delhi and Bihar Police, and their counterparts in central policing outfits, have confirmed the arrest of a seventh Indian Mujahideen activist.

Identified as Farooq, the arrested Indian Mujahideen activist was arrested in Bihar's Purnia District on charges of being involved in the April 2010 bomb blast that took place outside Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The arrest came a day after a Delhi court placed six suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives in police custody till December 15.

The court order came after the police claimed that the suspects were involved in a number of blast attacks across India, and sought the court's permission to interrogate them further.

Delhi Police busted the six-member Indian Mujahideen module last Wednesday, as they believed the suspects to be behind the three biggest terror attacks in the last two years.

Going by the recoveries made, it seems the group was planning to target other places in the country.

Police recovered two AK-47 rifles, a 9 mm pistol, 5 kilograms of explosives and 64 cartridges from the accused.

The suspects have been accused of planning the German Bakery blast in Pune in February 2010, the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore in April 2010 and the Jama Masjid firing that took place in Delhi in September 2010.

The motive in each case was to attack foreign tourists.

The module hardly relied on technology and maintained a high degree of secrecy with each member being informed only about his specific task. Group members were well trained in the handling of sophisticated weapons and making explosives.

All the arrested operatives hail from north Bihar.

Police sources say this area could well be the new recruiting centre for the Indian Mujahideen.

Police are keen to arrest of Ahmad Siddi Bappa or Yashin Ahmad, the man believed to be the leader of this group and the mastermind of Indian Mujahideen"s operations in the country.

These arrests assume significance simply because the police believe this is the only active module of the Indian Mujahideen functioning since 2009. (ANI)