New Delhi: Patiala House Court here has convicted four Al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operatives, including Mohd Abdur Rehman was nabbed from Odisha’s Cuttack, on the charges of conspiracy of terror activities in the country and recruitment for the AQIS.
Special Judge Sanjay Khanagwal convicted Mohd Asif, Mohd Abdur Rehman, Zafar Masood, and Abdul Sami under Sections 18 (Conspiracy for Terror Act) and 18B (Recruitment for Terror Act) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on Friday while observing that the prosecution proved the allegations beyond reasonable doubt against them under the UAPA.
Rehman was arrested during a joint operation by the special cell of Delhi and Odisha police on December 16, 2015, for allegedly running an illegal Madrasa at Tangi near Cuttack and radicalising the youths who enrolled there for terror activities.
Police sources said that he had visited Pakistan illegally and met top militants, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Mir, both wanted in the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, there.
Reports published in 2018 said that he had admitted his links with the terrorists involved in the 1999 Kandahar plane hijack and 2002 American Centre blast incident in Kolkata. He had provided safe shelter to a Pakistani terrorist involved in the Kandahar plane hijack in Cuttack.
As a cleric, Rehman also delivered provocative speeches at a number of ‘Jalsa’ functions both in Odisha and Jharkhand.
The operative’s brother was also one of the accused persons in the 2002 American Centre blast but was acquitted in the case.
