Nadim Ahmed, an accused in the American Center attack case, on Monday told a special court that he had links with the Pakistan-based militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen.
Motorcycle borne terrorists had attacked the United States Information Centre in Kolkata on January 22, 2002, killing four security personnel and injuring 17 others, including some passers-by.
Deposing before special Judge P L Dutta, inside the Presidency Jail, Nadim said that he had known Asif Raza Khan, an accused in the Khadim (shoe baron) abduction case and had gone to Kashmir in 1991 with him to meet Hizbul chief Syed Salauddin.
He said he spoke to Salauddin on several occasions and attended meetings of the terrorist group. He also witnessed huge stockpile of arms with the members of the organisation, Nadim deposed before the court.
In 1994, he was arrested in a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act case along with Khan by the Delhi police and sentenced to five years in jail.
He said that during their stay in the Tihar jail, he met Dubai-based don Aftab Ansari, the prime accused in the attack on American Center on January 22, 2002. He also identified Ansari who was present in the court.