Journalist among 11 arrested for suspected terror links

Bangalore, August 30: Eleven people have been arrested in cities of Bangalore and Hubli for allegedly having links with banned terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, highly placed sources said.

A journalist working with Deccan Herald English daily newspaper in Bangalore is also among the arrested.

The journalist, identified as Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui, was reportedly picked up by the Uttar Pradesh police and handed over to the Bangalore Police.

Siddiqui, who hails from Hubli was staying at an apartment at JC Nagar in the city.

Sources said that five people were arrested in Hubli while six others including the journalist were arrested in Bangalore.

It is learnt that most of the arrested were students. Laptops, mobile phones and few Islamic books have been recovered from the arrested.

One of the friends of Siddiqui on condition of anonymity told 'Coastaldigest.com' that the latter never involved himself in any illegal activities.

“As per my knowledge he never involved himself in any anti-constitutional or illegal activities. He has nothing to do with Indian Mujahideen”, he said.

Police sources said that the youths were picked up for questioning in connection with the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium blast case. Fifteen people were injured when two bombs exploded at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18, 2010 on the eve of the Bangalore-Mumbai IPL semifinal match.

The inquiry of those arrested is in progress and police have stated that the interrogation is still in the preliminary stage and no tangible information has been ascertained yet. The police are probing each person's links with the terrorist outfit, they said.

It is learnt that the five arrests came after a tip off from the Uttar Pradesh police team which was in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The police for now are still investigating the role each of them played in the blast.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Director General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachau said that the background of each of those picked up was being checked.

"Their background is being checked. After we come to some stage, we will tell you", he said, adding that the investigation was on.

Sources also add that there could be more arrests in the Chinnaswamy stadium blast case, possibly from Bengal, again based on a tip off from the UP police.