Gujarat businessman being questioned over links to ‘ISIS man’

Mumbai: The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) is questioning a Gujarat-based businessman for supplying funds and arms to Nazim Ahmed, the Mumbra resident arrested for suspected links to ISIS. Officials suspect that Ahmed used to meet the businessman frequently in the city. The businessman, who is yet to be arrested, also has links to Bijnor, the district which was the base for Ahmed’s activities.

Ahmed was arrested on April 20, in a joint operation of Uttar Pradesh ATS and state ATS officials. Officials reached the house in Mumbra where Ahmed was staying with two people - later identified as Gulfam and Huzefa Abrar alias Guddu – and arrested Ahmed and detained Gulfam and Guddu. While Ahmed was handed over to the UP ATS, which has registered a case against him in Lucknow, Gulfam and Guddu were released by the state AFS after questioning.

The UP ATS recently arrested an arms dealer from Punjab for supplying arms to Ahmed. Investigation further revealed that Ahmed was also in touch with another arms dealer from Mumbai who was to supply him arms but was arrested before the deal could materialise. The UP ATS informed the state ATS about all this and the latter began its probe. Sources revealed that the state ATS is now questioning a Gujarat-based businessman for alleged links with Ahmed.

The businessman is said to have visited Mumbai several times. A source said, “We are investigating the case and looking at all leads.” Another source said that the businessman hailed from Bijnor in UP, the same place Ahmed is said to have started his activities from. “We think that they knew each other from Bijnor,” said the source.