Investigation reveals Popular Front’s links with Indian Mujahideen

Post-Narath: IM links, foreign funding emerge
By Athul Lal A G – KOZHIKODE – www.newindpress.com

The state police team probing the terror camp allegedly run by the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Narath, 18 km from the Kannur district headquarters, has clinching evidence that the account number of a Dubai-based bank unearthed from the house of absconding PFI activist Khamarudeen belongs to a prominent member of the family of Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder leader of Indian Mujahideen.

Khamarudeen, who escaped during the police raid in Narath on April 23, is yet to be traced. It is a matter of time before the case is handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), it is reliably understood.

In another major breakthrough, the police have traced multiple foreign remittances exceeding `70 lakh in various bank accounts maintained by PFI activist Fahad, who is one among the 21 men arrested during the raid at the weapon training camp in Narath.

The remittances have been made to Fahad’s account over the last two years. All remittances were between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1 lakh. Police also recovered eight ATM cards.

When contacted, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said, “The state government demands a comprehensive probe into the findings of the Kannur police after the raid at Narath. We have passed all the information and evidences regarding the case to the Union Home Ministry, which is the authority for ordering an NIA probe into the case.’’

The top cops probing the case say they fear that the funding for recent terrorist operations in neighbouring states could have been channelised through accounts such as the one held by Fahad, who is the former secretary of PFI Kanjirakode area within the limits of Chakkarakkal police station. On interrogation, he has told police officials that the money was sourced for the marriage of his sister, sources said.

Meanwhile, analysis of call detail record (CDR) made soon after the arrest of 21 PFI activists from Narath has unearthed that all the accused had been regularly communicating with Majeed Parampayi of Ernakulam, a former PDP leader and Abdul Halim of Kozhikode, the fifth accused and second accused respectively in the Kalamassery bus burning case of September 2005.

Significantly, police have found out that calls have gone continuously to the numbers of both these men soon after the police raid in Narath. Regarding the owner of the account in the Dubai bank, whose number was traced from Khamarudeen’s house, a top source said his name could not be disclosed as it would be detrimental to the ongoing probe. “We are fairly sure that this person has close connection with the Dawood Ibrahim gang and has been funding terrorist operations in India and other countries in recent years,” he said. The Dubai bank account number, swords and terrorist literature were seized in another raid at Khamarudeen’s house in Narath on April 25.

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