Gujarat ATS arrest terror-accused

A joint team of the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad and the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday arrested a man who is accused of funding Jihadi elements in the state. The man identified as Abdul Wahab Sheikh (50), a resident of Juhapura, was arrested after he arrived at the city airport from Saudi Arabia, cops said.

BV Gohil, ACP, Crime Branch said that Sheikh was arrested from the city airport while returning from Saudi Arabia. "We arrested him on the basis of a tip off. He is wanted in connection with the 2003 Jihadi conspiracy case," said Gohil.

According to police, Sheikh, had provided financial support to Jihadi elements in the state who wanted to avenge the 2002 Godhra riots in which many Muslims were killed.

They said Sheikh had been living in Saudi Arabia since 1999, but visited Gujarat frequently. He was last seen in Gujarat in 2002 and had absconded to Saudi Arabia as soon as his name emerged in the Jihadi conspiracy case.

It is believed that Sheikh arrived in the city to meet his wife who had been living with him in Saudi Arabia, but had returned some years ago.

Gohil in a press conference held in the city said that the probe revealed that Sheikh had sent money to Jihadi elements in the state thrice. The money was sent through Abdul Majed and Abdul Ghulam Ali. The former is his own brother.

"He solicited funds from Saudi Arabia for the cause," said Gohil. He said the funds were to help hard-line cleric Mufti Sufian. It should be noted that Sufian is believed to be the brain behind the murder of former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya.

"However, it is a matter of probe whether Sheikh was directly involved in the Pandya murder conspiracy," Gohil said. Police also suspect that he might have met other jihadists while in Saudi Arabia.