Hasan Imamuddin, allegedly involved in the terror attack on the American Culture Centre in Kolkata in January 2002 was arrested by Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist
Squad (ATS) from Aurangabad town of Bihar.
The 44-year-old criminal would be handed over to Kolkata Police, said Himanshu Shukla, Superintendent of Police with ATS, adding that considered as close aide of Aftab Ansari, the main kingpin of the attack in Kolkata 14-years-ago, Hasan had been connected with terrorist outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. Both the outfits are allegedly involved in recent terror attack in Uri, Kashmir which led to India’s retaliation in form of surgical strikes in Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK). There are as many as 11 accused in the American Centre terror attack case.
“Hasan who relocated to Gaya in Bihar was hiding under a new name Arif Hasan. Apart from American Centre in West Bengal’s capital, he also recced CID headquarters in Kolkata as well as Rajkot Police Commissioner’s office at the behest of Omer Sheikh, a Pakistani terror operator linked with Jaish, said Shukla.
According to him, Hasan not only arranged a bike for terrorists but also gave accommodation facilities to two Pakistani — Salim and Zahid, who opened fire at policemen during the attack on American Centre in which four policemen were martyred and 15 injured.
Asif Raza Khan Commando Force (ARKC) formed after the encounter of Asif Raza Khan by Gujarat Police in 2001. ARKC was formed by his brother Amir Raza Khan to take revenge of Khan’s death. Hasan also became member of ARKC. Amir is taking shelter in Pakistan. Hasan’s close aides Ansari, Asif and one Nasir kidnapped a businessman in Kolkata ahead of the terror attack on American Centre and extorted `2.75 crore as ransom. Same terrorists also kidnapped Rajkot based businessmen Bhasker Parekh and Paresh Shah and also extorted same amount.