Indian Mujahideen’s ‘mystery man’, computer expert arrested in Pune

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Friday night arrested an Indian Mujahideen (IM) “mystery man”, an expert in advanced computer applications, who remained elusive till now despite several operations by security agencies in the past few years. Identified as Ajaz Shaikh (27), he sent emails to media houses after the Jama Masjid and Varanasi attacks claiming responsibility, the police said.

A resident of Pune in Maharashtra, Shaikh’s covert abilities were trusted to such an extent by the top IM operatives that he was asked to stay back in India after the 2008 Batla House encounter even as the Bhatkals and others escaped to Pakistan, sources said.

“He was in touch with the IM top guns, but was not completely involved in the activities till 2008. After the Batla House encounter, he stayed back and updated his associates across the border through the internet about developments in India," said the source.

“He was asked by his handlers to become technically more sound during his stay in India for which he attended diploma courses in hardware, networking, Linux and got acquainted with the latest in IT,” the source said.

The Delhi police had arrested Qateel Siddiqui for his involvement in the Jama Masjid case. Police said Shaikh, who was arrested from the Saharanpur railway station on a tip-off, was employed with a BPO in Pune.