Sadiq, who was known by a different name then, had opened fire outside the centre: Crime branch
Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaikh, co-founder of Indian Mujahideen (IM), allegedly had links with the American Center attack in Kolkata in 2001, Mumbai Crime Branch officials claimed on Monday.
Sadiq, police said, was one of the two shooters, who had allegedly opened fire outside the centre with AK47 assault rifles.
“It was learnt that Sadiq was using an alias as Sadaqat at the time of the attack in Kolkata. On January 22, Sadiq along with an associate named Zahid came on two motorcycles, driven by two of their associates,” joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria said.
“They opened fire indiscriminately outside the centre, killing five persons and injuring 16 others. Sadiq had emptied the whole magazine,” he said.
Maria also said that Sadiq belonged to the Aftab Ansari group. Ansari was the brain behind the attack. After the attack, the duo went to the Hazaribaug area of Jharkhand. Sadiq then left for Patna for some work.
After a few days, while Sadiq was returning to Hazaribaug, he learnt that Zahid was shot dead in an encounter by the police.
“Sadiq then rose as an important man in the group and was called by his superiors Amir Raza and Riyaz Bhatkal to Dubai in October 2002. He then returned to India, and in 2003, he sent around 16 people to Bangladesh and Pakistan for terror training. Most of those sent for training belonged to the Sanjarpur area of Azamgarh. Atif Amin (who was gunned down in the Batla House encounter in Delhi) was also sent by Sadiq for training,” said Maria.
Sadiq was given his alias Sadaqat by his handlers during his terror training in a hostile country.
In all 10 persons, including Aftab Ansari, were convicted in the case, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was on the lookout for Sadaqat, who was wanted in the case.
The police would be handing over Sadiq to CBI for further probe soon.
Twenty members, including Sadiq, allegedly having allegiance to IM have been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch for their suspected involvement in the series of blasts in the country since 2005.
s_somendranath@dnaindia.net
