Indian Mujahideen chief nabbed

Akhtar, 23, is believed to be behind a string of attacks in the country, including one on a rally by Modi.

NEW DELHI: Police on Tuesday arrested Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu, the alleged head of the outlawed Indian Mujahideen (IM) at a village near the porous border with Nepal, officials said.

Akhtar, 23, is believed to be behind a string of attacks in the country, including one on a rally by prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi last October that killed six people and wounded more than 80.

According to police, Akhtar was heading the group following the arrest of Yaseen Bhatkal, another high-profile catch in India’s recent crackdown against militant organisations.

Delhi’s anti-terror cell chief, S N Srivastava said police found Akhtar following tip-offs from his fellow militants arrested on the weekend.

Srivastava said Akhtar was responsible for setting up many “modules” of the banned group around the country. Akhtar had also helped set up an arms factory in Delhi, he said.

On Sunday, Delhi police claimed to have averted a “major terror attack” with the arrest of four alleged operatives of the banned IM group.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2014.