CoD team takes Yahya to 'terror camp' area

Hubli, Feb 24 (UNI) Mohammed Kammakutty alias Yahya Khan, the suspected SIMI kingpin in Karnataka, who was nabbed by the city police here on Thursday has revealed that he had master-minded the activities of the banned organisation across the state.

He was arrested based on the information provided by medical student Mohammad Asif who was arrested in the city early this month, which brought to light the terror network having links with the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Toiaba.

Asif was nabbed following the arrest of two suspected LeT operatives Riyazuddin Naser of Hyderabad and Asadulla Abubaker of Hospet in Davangere district in January.

CoD sleuths today took Yahya, Asif and another medical student Shakeel Mali, arrested earlier in connection with the case, to the forests near Castle Rock on Karnataka-Goa border where the accused had allegedly conducted meetings of SIMI.

The CoD team also reportedly tried to unearth a cache of arms and ammunition sent to the city and other places and stashed at some place in the forest area coming under Western ghats.

Sources said that during the interrogation Yahya had admitted that he was leading SIMI activities in Karnataka and regularly visiting Bijapur, Hubli and Belgaum. The investigating team had got some vital clues from Yahya that may lead to the arrest of more people who were allegedly groomed by him to carry out terror activities in the state.

The CoD police also reportedly managed to get some mobile numbers to which Yahya had called regularly and sent messages. The CoD also plans to visit Kerala to find about certain revelations made by Yahya in connection to SIMI led terrorist activities.

Meanwhile a police team from Kerala is expected to arrive in Karnataka to interrogate Yahya. The Kerala police wants to know whether Yahya had groomed any terror network in that state.

Meanwhile, the bail application moved by Mohammed Asif before the First JMFC court will come up for hearing here tomorrow.

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