Patna cops want Monu for setting up ‘IM module’

Monu made a base in Nepal, and divided his time between the two sides of the border.

People in Maniarpur village in Samastipur’s Kalyanpur police station area knew Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu as a “shy boy with a religious inclination”. Around 2008, when he was probably aged 18, Monu was allegedly recruited by Yasin Bhatkal to be an operative of the Indian Mujahideen in the area.

Monu, who is now seen by police in Bihar and Jharkhand as the IM’s most important leader after Yasin Bhatkal, is named in the October 28 serial bombing of Patna. He is also separately accused along with Yasin Bhatkal of “creating a terror module in Bihar by misguiding several youths” of Mithilanchal. The NIA suspects that he was also involved in the bombing of the Bodhgaya temple last July.

“He is accused in the Gandhi Maidan case lodged last November, and we will seek his police remand,” Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said on Tuesday, referring to FIR alleging that Monu helped set up IM’s Bihar terror module. “He faces grave charges and gives us a strong case to seek his remand.”

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The Gandhi Maidan case is different from the Patna blasts case, which is being investigated by the NIA.

Monu’s father, a Samastipur medium farmer named Mohammed Wasim Akhtar, has been questioned by NIA and the local police several times. He has told them that Monu, the second of his three sons, stayed away from the village, but did keep in touch with the family.

Monu’s uncle Shaqi Akhtar lost his position as a district secretary of the JD(U) because of Monu’s alleged IM links and a negative public perception.

A senior police officer told The Indian Express: “Yasin Bhatkal alias Dr Imran made young Monu his right-hand man, who followed his instructions on recruiting youths from Darbhanga, Madhubani and Samastipur.”

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Monu made a base in Nepal, and divided his time between the two sides of the border.

Monu, the officer said, had also given bombmaking training to youths in some places in Bihar, but stopped after the arrests from Darbhanga and Madhubani.

Properties of four ‘IM’ men attached

LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) attached properties of four alleged IM operatives — Dr Shahnawaj, Sajid Bada, Mohammad Khalid and Ariz Khan alias Junaid — all hailing from Azamgarh and absconding since the Batla House encounter in September, 2008. While the NIA attached property from Ariz’s house in Kotwali Tuesday the proceedings for the others were initiated Monday, said Azamgarh SP Anant Deo. Additional SP KK Chaudhary said, Tuesday, a team of NIA had visited Sanjarpur village Monday carrying out the court order and attached properties of three accused. The SHO of City Kotwali police station confirmed that the belongings of terror accused are at the police station. ENS

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