Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police on Tuesday said that it is ready to assist the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its investigation into the modus operandi of Habibur Rahman, one of the handlers of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Shaikh Abdul Naeem alias Nomi, who was arrested in New Delhi on Monday.
“The NIA had arrested Rahman in New Delhi yesterday. As per rules, police have to inform the family members of the accused after his arrest. We came to know about his arrest after the NIA contacted the Kendrapara police since Rahman is a native of Tendakuda village under Patkura police limits,” twin cities Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty told mediapersons here.
Stating that the Special Task Force (STF) team of the State Crime Branch had immediately contacted the NIA after the arrest of Rahman, he said the Odisha Police is ready to provide all assistance to the NIA in its investigation into finding further details of Rahman if it wants to.
Mohanty said Rahman is living in Riyadh at present. His father and two brothers are living in the village. His brothers are working as drivers. We have information that Rahman has not visited his village since the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, the Patiala House Court has allowed the NIA to take Rahman on remand for further interrogation.
Talking to mediapersons after the arrest of Rahman, his father Mir Rahimuddin said his son had left home 30 years ago.
Habib was initially staying in Mumbai. However, he later left for Riyadh leaving his family in Mumbai. “He had met me in Mecca during the Haj pilgrimage in 2004. He had come to the village in 2006 with one of his two wives and his children. Since then, we have no contact with him,” he added.
Asked about his arrest, the agitated father said his son deserves punishment if he is involved in anti-national activities. “I should also be punished if I have done anything wrong,” he pointed out.
To a question on whether he was aware of his son’s involvement in terror activities, Mir said his son is an expert in denting and welding work. He has worked in different states to acquire expertise in this work.
“I have no idea how my son got involved in terror activities and who motivated him,” he said.
