Aide of absconding terror supected arrested in RT Nagar

BENGALURU: More than a month after the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested five terror suspects, the R T Nagar police have arrested an accomplice of an absconding terror suspect on Monday night.

The arrested Mohammed Harshad Khan, who was on the run for the last four years, is said to be a close aide of prime terror suspect Junaid, who is abroad. Arshad is wanted in 17 cases in the city, and also the murder of Noor Ahmed of RT Nagar.

When the police reached his house on Monday night, Arshad threatened to slit his neck with a blade and commit suicide. He also threatened to jump from the terrace. The police believe that Arshad has detailed information about Junaid and have informed the CCB also.

Following the arrest, DG&IGP Alok Mohan visited Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara’s Sadashivnagar residence and briefed him.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shiva Prakash Devaraju said, “We arrested Mohammed Harshad Khan on August 27 and booked him under the Arms Act, IPC Sections 307 and 353 and he has been sent to judicial custody. He is an accused in a 2017 murder case and he has 17 other cases against him — eight in RT Nagar, four in Sanjaynagar, three in Hebbal and in Chikkajala. In 2020, a history sheet was opened against him at the RT Nagar police station. Harshad is an accused in the 2017 murder case along with Junaid and 20 others”.

“We are questioning him about his terror links, but so far, no connection has been revealed prima facie. He had non-bailable warrants against him and was absconding. When the police went to arrest him, he tried to attack them. We have to see if he has links with Junaid”, the DCP added.