The anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of the state police on Sunday arrested a Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activist Gulrez Ali from the station area.
The ATS sleuths caught Gulrez from the station area where they were present in strength to take the custody of another SIMI activist, Abu Faisal, who was brought to Bhopal from New Delhi by a Delhi police team, police sources said.
Gulrez who carried a reward of Rs 15,000, was later produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till May 5. He facilitated hideout of Abu Faisal in Indore while he went absconding.
Earlier after the arrest of Abu Faisal, Javed Nagori and Sajid alias Guddu Nagori during the investigation confirmed the name of Gulrez who made all the essential arrangements for Abu Faisal's in Indore and provided him with Rs 1 lakh.
Gulrez was not actively involved with the activities conducted by SIMI but supported the SIMI activists by fulfilling their requirements. He was booked for several cases in connection to SIMI in the past and to intensify the search Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) declared a reward of Rs 15000 for providing information of Gulrez.
A case was registered against him for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities in 2013 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Explosives Act.
Since then the ATS had been keeping a watch on him, the sources said. When the ATS sleuths got information today that Gulrez could be present somewhere near Bhopal station's platform number one, it intensified its vigil and nabbed him the moment he was spotted, they said. The ATS re-arrested Faisal from Barwani district some time ago after he escaped from Khandwa prison with six others on October 2.
A National Investigative Agency (NIA) team took him for questioning in connection with different terror attacks in the country and his links with other Indian Mujahideen operatives, the sources said. later, Faisal was also taken by the Delhi police team for questioning in connection with his alleged involvement with recently arrested IM operatives.