SIMI TERRORIST ABDUL QURESHI REMANDED IN ATS CUSTODY

MUMBAI: The Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) Mumbai has taken custody of terrorist Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, the mouthpiece of the banned Students of Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), from the Delhi special cell on Monday.

ATS produced Qureshi in the Sewri court when he was brought to Mumbai. He is remanded in custody till July 13.

Qureshi was arrested from Gazipur in Uttar Pradesh by Delhi police after a gunfight in January this year. He was on the most wanted list of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and was the main plotter of the 2008 Gujarat and Delhi serial blasts. He is also believed to be the co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen (IM).

Qureshi was wanted in four cases in Maharashtra – two cases registered by the Mumbai police and two by the ATS.

Mumbai police registered a case against him in 1995 for allegedly participating in an unlawful gathering in Kurla and another one in 2001 where he was booked under the Maharashtra Prevention of Disruptive Activities (MPDA) Act.

The Kalachauki ATS unit had registered a case against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2006. In 2008, Qureshi fled to Nepal through Bihar. After that, his name came up during the investigation in to the Ahmedabad serial blast. He reportedly was in touch with Riyaz Bhatkal, founder member of Indian Mujahideen, in Nepal. He lived in Nepal till 2015 after which he went to Saudi Arabia to arrange funds to recruit more members of the IM in India.