Mangaluru’s first sleeper cell raid: 3 Indian Mujahideen men convicted for terror activities

The trio were also declared guilty under relevant sections of the Arms Act. Naushad, a computer engineering student, was also declared guilty under sections 420 (cheating), 468 and 471 (forgery).
Mangaluru’s first sleeper cell raid: 3 Indian Mujahideen men convicted for terror activities
Mangaluru’s first sleeper cell raid: 3 Indian Mujahideen men convicted for terror activities
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The Third Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday convicted three out of seven suspects arrested during a police raid on Mangaluru’s first sleeper cell in 2008, the New Indian Express reports.

The punishment for Syed Mohammed Naushad (26), Ahmed Bava (34) and Fakir Bava will be pronounced on Wednesday by the sessions court.

The Third additional district and sessions court judge S H Pushpanjali Devi declared the trio guilty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, Explosives Act 2013 and other sections. 

The trio were also declared guilty under relevant sections of the Arms Act. Naushad, a computer engineering student, was also declared guilty under sections 420 (cheating), 468 and 471 (forgery).

However, the other four accused in the German Bakery bombing, Mohammed Ali of Mukkacherry, his son Javed Ali, Mohammed Rafique from Bolontharu in Bantwal taluk and Shabbir Bhatkal alias Shabbir Maulvi were acquitted due to lack of evidence. 

Naushad, Ahmed Bava and Shabbir Bhatkal alias Shabbir Moulana, the latter alleged to be an aide of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, were in judicial custody. However, Fakir Bava, who was also convicted, had been out on bail.  

The terror network was busted after then District Crime Intelligence Bureau (DCIB) inspector HM Venkatesh Prasanna, arrested Mohammed Ali, from Mukkacheri on October 3, 2008.

Later, the team seized five live bombs and 10 mobile phones after raiding a rented house of Riyaz Bhatkal in Chembugudde near Thokkotu.

The police had seized 11 items, including maps, CPU, telephone numbers, passport, bank passbook, a bike with fake number plate and a book titled `Commander of the Muslim Army', from the house of Mohammed Noushad in Pandeshwar.

The police had also found Jihadi literature, maps of Gujarat and Rajasthan, a bank passbook, VCDs, Rs 11,39,850 in cash. They had also seized Noushad's passport from Mudassar Yasin's house.

Police arrested Mohammed Rafeeq and Fakir Ahmed from Bolanthur and Muloor, in Dakshina Kannada district, respectively.

Based on the information gathered after questioning the duo, the police later raided the house and three acres of land belonging to sixth accused Fakir Ahmed in Vittalamakki of Kuduregundi village in Chikkamagaluru.

The police had seized a total of 38 items including a gun, hand gloves, black oxide, fibre pieces, iron pieces, glass pieces, nylon materials, glycerine bottle and phosphorous required to make bombs after raiding Fakir Ahmed’s house in Vittalamakki.

They also found 20 electric sticks, 19 detonators and four timers were seized from the second accused Ahammed Bava Aboobakker.

Noushad, had allegedly designed an electronic circuit at a workshop in Ullal, which he claimed was for creating a washing machine as part of a college project.

“All explosives seized have been confirmed as improvised explosive devices (IED). Confirmation of experts and statements by the victims helped the prosecution in proving charges against the accused,” Sherigar told TOI.

The Public Prosecutor, Narayan Sherigar, informed the court that Naushad had obtained mobile phone sim cards by producing fake student Identity cards. 

The investigation revealed that the registration number on his two-wheeler was also fake and the number was traced to its original owner Kiran, who also testified in the court.

Sherigar said the former Deputy Commissioners Maheshwar Rao, Ponnuraj and under-secretary Shivaram Bhat had deposed before the court to justify reasons behind the registering of case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

There were a total 88 witnesses, statements of 62 persons were recorded and 122 documents were marked for scrutiny, while 155 items were produced to corroborate the conspiracy.

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