Karnataka terror plot: Suspect waited for a cheaper flight

Bengaluru, Jan 12: A mixed bag of luck and bad luck led to the nabbing of this terror suspect from the Mangaluru airport late Saturday night. Riyaz Ahmed Sayyidi was to travel to Dubai three days back, but his travel agent told him to postpone his flight to Saturday night as he was getting a ticket cheaper by Rs 3,000.

The Bengaluru police call it a case of sheer luck that he had postponed his flight. Had he left three days back we would have missed him, the police say.

Travel agent dissuaded Sayyidi:

Sayyidi was working in Dubai and had come to Bhatkal on a holiday. He was scheduled to return to Dubai three days back and had approached the travel agent to book his ticket.

However, the travel agent advised him to postpone his flight as the ticket price was high. Sayyidi was told that if he took the Mangalore- Dubai flight on Saturday he would his ticket which would be Rs 3000 cheaper.

Sayyidi took his advise and decided to postpone his flight. This, according to the police, came as a blessing in disguise as they had just got information on him and hence were able to nab him.

Sayyidi probe:

Police Commissioner, Bengaluru city, M N Reddi informed that the probe is being carried out regarding his links with operatives abroad.

He said that during the probe it was found that Sayyidi was in touch with certain operatives in a bid to carry out strikes in Karnataka.

He also informed that the three other persons arrested last week from Bhatkal and Bangalore were also in touch with Sayyidi.

Is the target Armar?

Although the police had not spelt out anything clearly as yet, it appears that they are trying to lay their hands on Sultan Armar the recruiter belonging to the Ansar-ul-Tawhid.

He is suspected to be based in the UAE. Although there is a lot of dossier related material on him, the Indian agencies would need more hardcore proof on him in the form of a chargesheet.

The agencies feel through this Bhatkal case they would be able to build up a case leading to the extradition of Armar.

OneIndia News