NIA team may fly to Abu Dhabi for deportation of IM terror suspect

CHENNAI: A team of National Investigation Agency officials is expected to fly to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi to liaise with authorities there for the deportation of Indian Mujahideen terrorist Abdul Wahid Sddibapa who was arrested there last week.

Confirming the arrest, sources in Abu Dhabi police and Indian diplomats said the suspect had been living in Dubai since last 10 years and was a frequent visitor to Abu Dhabi. Sddibapa, from the coastal Karnataka town of Bhatkal, is said to be a distant relative of IM founders Riyaz and Yasin Bhatkal.

An Interpol red corner notice issued against Wahid says he is wanted for his alleged involvement in the July 2006 Mumbai serial blasts, the 2008 Delhi blasts and the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium blasts in Bangalore. Diplomatic sources said Indian security agencies were being helped by Interpol. Sources said the 32-year-old terror suspect allegedly routed money sent by Riyaz and Bhatkal to India ahead of the blasts.

Yasin was arrested in August from the India-Nepal border along with Asadullah Akhtar. Riyaz is believed to be operating from Pakistan. Wahid's role in IM was revealed during interrogation of Yasin.