Suspected terrorist has two Aadhaar cards, says police

Suspected terrorist has two Aadhaar cards, says police

By Hameed Ashraf / NT
Bengaluru

In a joint operation, the Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir Police nabbed a suspected leader of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen from Bengaluru, the police said on Tuesday. The person, identified as Talib Hussain, was arrested on Sunday.

According to the police, armed forces in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir had launched a hunt for Hussain after he was allegedly involved in provocative speeches targeting a particular community. To escape the police, Hussain allegedly fled the state with his wife and three children to Bengaluru, police sources said.They were staying in a room near a mosque in Okalipuram. 

The mosque authorities told the police that Hussain, along with his wife and three children including an infant, had approached them during the second Covid-19 lockdown. He apparently told them that he did not have food to eat and a place to live. Taking pity on his condition, the mosque authorities allowed his family to stay in the room without rent. He worked as an auto-rickshaw driver for some time, police sources said.

The Srirampura police arrested Hussain after verifying his identity. The police said that he has two Aadhaar cards, one of which mentioned his name as ‘Talik.’
It was also being alleged that he had eloped from Jammu and Kashmir with the wife of a policeman after the death of his wife.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Prathap Reddy said the investigation on the case is still underway and the police department is constantly in touch with its J&K counterparts for further information about the suspect and his contacts in Bengaluru.

Citing a J&K Police report, the Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra’s office said Talib Hussain joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2016, and is on the wanted list of security forces.
Confirming Hussain’s arrest, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “It’s an ongoing process. The police will keep an eye on the movements of such people and the department will extend all possible help into the investigation. The Jammu and Kashmir police have taken this very seriously,” he said.