Another Imam held over ‘Lashkar links’

The Delhi Police claimed Shahid's interrogation revealed Rashidi had brainwashed him to join the conspiracy.

The special cell of Delhi Police on Monday arrested Imam Hafeez Rashidi,an alleged LeT operative,for allegedly providing logistical support to plot a terror strike in the Capital.

On December 6,special cell sleuths had raided his village in Haryana to arrest him and his associate Imam Mohammed Shahid. Shahid was arrested and another Imam (Mohammed Aarish) was let off after interrogation,the special cell sleuths had been looking for Rashidi.

The police said Rashidi and Shahid allegedly belonged to a Lashkar module spread across Delhi,Rajasthan and Haryana and were in touch with Lashkar operative Javed Baluchi.

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Police sources said that on Monday morning,Rashidi,Imam of the local mosque in Gagas village near Choti Mewli was spotted by local people who informed police. He was placed under arrest. The Delhi Police claimed Shahids interrogation revealed Rashidi had brainwashed him to join the conspiracy.

Police claimed that the two used their mobile phones to talk to Baluchi,alleged to be hiding in Pakistan.

Investigators said they recovered Rashidis passport from his house,which mentions he has been to Pakistan. Rashidi had been preaching at Gagas mosque for 5-6 years,is married and has two children. He resided in a house near the mosque. His father runs a small pan shop in Nuh town.

Rashidis relative Abdul Hai confirmed the arrest but said his nephew had surrendered. Rashidi said he is innocent and has nothing to fear. He was spotted by villagers who advised him to surrender. He surrendered and is not involved with any terrorist organisation.

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Investigators said he was in touch with Baluchi. He purchased a pre-registered SIM card from a mobile shop in Nuh. Sources said the dealer who provided the SIMs used by Rashidi and Shahid was interrogated but prima facie did not have a role in the conspiracy. The mobile shop in Nuh sold SIM cards which were registered using false names and addresses. We have a video recording of the shop and interrogated the shop owner from where the SIMs were purchased. We recovered the mobile phones used in the conspiracy, said a source.

Police had earlier recovered Rs 20,000 from Rashidis house but returned it to his wife,when they found proof that the money had been collected by villagers for the local mosque.