Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Najir Sheikh alias Patla Anas (25), hailing from West Bengal and a key operative of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB), a proscribed terrorist organisation. He was arrested at Agartala and produced before the chief judicial magistrate on Tuesday (August 27). After obtaining transit warrant, he has been brought to Bengaluru and produced before a NIA special court on Wednesday (August 28).

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He has been arrested in a case pertaining to seizures of 5 hand grenades and other such incriminating materials which were used in fabrication of hand grenades/IEDs on July 7 from a house in Chikkabanavara, Bengaluru. These materials were rented by other members of JMB.

 

Najib is an active member of JMB. He was staying in Bengaluru along with other members of JMB such as Jahidul Islam, Aijul Mondla and others. He and his associates from JMB are actively involved in raising funds by committing dacoities in Bengaluru. Further, as part of conspiracy they had established their hideouts at various places in the city and made preparations to carry out subversive activities by procuring material and equipment for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

 

The JMB was involved in the 2014 blast in Burdwan in West Bengal which injured two people. The Indian Express reported that fearing arrest, some of the members had escaped to Karnataka. The NIA had arrested a top JMB leader Mohammed Jahidul Islam from Ramanagara last August.