Indian Mujahideen operative nabbed from Bihar

The arrest of alleged Indian Mujahideen operative named Danish from Darbhanga, Bihar, could throw light on how the terror outfit is trying to stage a comeback in India, reports Vicky Nanjappa

The National Investigating Agency has picked up an alleged Indian Mujahideen operative named Danish from Chakjora in Darbhanga district of Bihar.

An NIA court had issued the arrest warrant for Danish a few months ago.

The NIA had been hunting for him since it began studying the operations of the Indian Mujahideen under home ministry's instructions.

Danish's name had cropped up during the questioning of three IM operatives arrested by the Delhi Police who were later linked to the Pune serial blasts.

Sources told rediff.com that Danish was a close aide of fugitive IM founder Yasin Bhatkal and was looking after the Darbhanga module from where the IM staged a comeback last year.

Danish's role is being scrutinised in two cases -- Pune serial blasts and the establishing the Darbhanga IM module.

It is alleged that he was a key man for Bhatkal and operated only out of Darbhanga.

His name also was mentioned by Fasih Mahmood, the terror suspect arrested and flown down from Saudi Arabia a couple of months ago.

The NIA is trying to find out the links between Danish, Mahmood, and the elusive Fayaz Kagzai who agencies believe plays the role of a middle man between the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Indian Mujahideen

He is a crucial link in the re-emergence strategy of the IM, NIA officials say.