A 28-year-old alleged al Qaeda militant was arrested on Sunday evening by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.
Saimun Rahman alias Hamdan alias Shumon Haq alias Raju Bhai was apprehended from Shakarpur after the police received a tip-off on his arrival in the area to allegedly meet someone. The police said that they were tracking his movements since July.
The British national of Bangladesh origin allegedly told the police that he was directed to set up a base in India and radicalise youths, including Rohingyas, to fight in Myanmar.
Had an Aadhaar card
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said that the man first told them that his name was Shumon Haq and showed an Aadhaar card in his name as resident of Bihar’s Kishanganj.
After sustained interrogation, however, the man allegedly said he was born and brought up in London where his family still resides.
“He belongs to a very good family. His father moved from Bangladesh to London in the 60s. His siblings are educated, a sister is in the field of medicine, a brother is a banker and one sister is a social worker,” said Mr. Kushwah.
The police said that Rahman, who allegedly was in touch with senior members of the terror outfit such as Al Nusra’s head Mohammad Jowlani, was radicalised in 2012. He went to Islamic Republic of Mauritania in 2013 to join Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Later, because of his ‘skills’, he was sent to Syria where he underwent training for three months and carried out terrorist activities, the police said. He has fought in Syria as a member of Jabhat Al Nusra (Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria) against Syrian government forces.
In September 2014, he was allegedly sent to Bangladesh to influence youth to fight for the cause of Rohingyas.
‘Saw an opportunity’
On why he was selected to go to Bangladesh, Mr. Kushwah said that his origin was the reason. “In the country, he was helped by an old Al Qaeda member Yasin. The terror outfit saw ‘atrocities’ on Rohingyas as an opportunity and sent Rahman to build a team,” he said.
The police said that in Bangladesh, Rahman managed to radicalise a few people but was arrested along with his three associates. “He was arrested for his activities and all his associates also had a good background just like him,” said the officer.
After three years, he was released on bail in April this year and allegedly continued his mission. “After bail, he contacted Mohammad Jowlani who told him to leave the country and come to India to influence Rohingyas to fight against Myanmar,” said Mr. Kushwah.
Police said Rahman was planning to set up base in Manipur or Mizoram.
“He claims to have influenced at least 12 people in India but we are verifying that. Also, we have identified people in India he was in touch with and are trying to track them,” said the DCP.