The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Some IT professionals under police scanner

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Some IT professionals under police scanner

K.V. Subramanya

Network’s activities are concentrated in Bangalore

The network is said to have links with radical Islamist organisations
Its existence came to light for the first time in 2006 following the attack on the IISc.

BANGALORE: In view of the increasing threats to information technology (IT) companies from terrorist outfits, the Bangalore police and Central intelligence agencies have stepped up surveillance on a network of IT professionals, which is alleged to be having links with radical Islamist organisations headed by former leaders of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Though the activities of the network are spread over different States, they are concentrated in Bangalore, the country’s IT capital.

Its existence came to light for the first time in 2006 while the Bangalore police were investigating a suspect in the terrorist attack on the Indian Institute of Science, a senior police officer told The Hindu.

Following the recent arrest of three suspected terrorists in Davangere and Hubli, the police were investigating a Bangalore resident who is suspected to be connected with the radical network, the officer said.

The group has been organising meetings in the city over the last few months and the latest was held on Sunday last on Hennur-Bagalur Road.

As many as 45 persons participated in the meeting that was organised by the treasurer of the network, according to sources in the intelligence agencies.

The sources said the network was suspected to be associated with two other organisations that are under the police scanner — Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Kerala’s National Development Front.

Some former SIMI leaders, including some ex-zonal presidents, are heading the two organisations which are suspected to be receiving funds from abroad, they said.

The IT network is said to have over 150 members in Bangalore and many of them are from Kerala.

A senior police officer said that following increasing terrorist threats and incidents of cyber terrorism, IT firms had to strengthen their internal security.

Besides thoroughly checking the antecedents of the recruits, the companies should keep a close watch on the activities of such employees, he added.

Asif for Bijapur?

Bijapur Staff Correspondent reports:

Mohammad Asif, a terror suspect, is likely to be brought to Bijapur to identify the house of Adnan, believed to be the kingpin of the terror network in the State.

According to sources, Asif, who was interrogated at the Vidyagiri police station in Dharwad on Wednesday, reportedly confessed that he knew about the location of the house of the terror kingpin in Bijapur as he had visited it.

He also reportedly told the investigators that Adnan was known by a different name.

Questioned

Bidar Staff Correspondent

Humnabad police on Wednesday questioned Khaja Baig, father of Mirza Ahmed Baig, as Mirza Baig, a house surgeon at KIMS, Hubli, is alleged to have links with a terror suspect.

Mirza Baig is the second son of Khaja Baig, a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation driver.

Sources said that Khaja Baig is a native of Topgalli area of Humnabad in Bidar district and had shifted to Gulbarga five years ago.

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