The preacher has been identified as 51-year-old Anzar Shah, a resident of South Banglore's Banashankari neighbourhood. According to special cell, Shah allegedly was an AQIS 'motivator' and had facilitated the travel of one Umar Hyderabadi to Waziristan area of Pakistan. The cell believes Hyderabadi is currently fighting for AQIS
"The Special Cell of Delhi police has arrested an Islamic preacher, who is also a principal of a madrassa in Bengaluru for his alleged links to Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The special cell claims that the preacher's name had cropped up during interrogation of two other alleged operatives of the AQIS arrested in December last year.
The preacher has been identified as 51-year-old Anzar Shah, a resident of South Banglore's Banashankari neighbourhood. According to special cell, Shah allegedly was an AQIS 'motivator' and had facilitated the travel of one Umar Hyderabadi to Waziristan area of Pakistan. The cell believes Hyderabadi is currently fighting for AQIS
Shah, who has been associated with Jamaat-ulema-Hind, is the fourth person to be arrested by the special cell. Earlier in December 2015, the cell arrested Sambhal resident Mohamad Asif, who is supposedly the Indian chief of AQIS. Abdur Rehman, another Islamic preacher from Odisha was also arrested followed by arresting of Zaffar Maqsood, a resident of Sambhal.
The cell had also revealed that Asim Umer who was made the AQIS chief by AQ head Ayman al-Zahwiri, also belonged to Sambhal in UP. Delhi police said that Umer had been in touch with Zaffar and Rahman through Asif who had traveled to meet Asim in Pakistan along with two other youth in 2014.
"We are trying to establish if the accused was in touch with AQIS leaders. We have contacted the immigration department to give a list of his travels outside India. The bank accounts of the accused will also be checked in the process," said Arvind Deep, Special Commissioner Special Cell.
The senior officer further said in the past the accused is known to have made some controversial speeches, a charge denied by acquaintances and family members of the preacher.
Fauzan Shah, son of the accused told dna, "There is some misunderstanding. Someone has spread rumours about my father. He never spoke against any religion. The person who brings us our electricity bills and our mails, my father would invite them and offer them juice and tea". According to Fauzan, Shah had travelled to Saudi Arabia once for pilgrimage.
While speaking to dna, Nayaz Pasha, who is the head of the Mecca Masjid of Bengaluru, where the preacher had allegedly made the controversial speeches said," He mostly spoke about Islamic jurisprudence and evils in the society like drinking, molestation of women and unIslamic practices of Muslims. Atleast during his speeches here, he never spoke about Jihad. Neither did he speak against any other religions".
In a speech made by the preacher during a Jamaat Ulema event, available on youtube, Shah appears to be critical of police speaks about youth being falsely implicated by the state and demands compensation for them. He also speaks about "powers trying to make India a Hindu state". However in the same speech he appeals the government to protect the secularism in India and speaks about contribution and sacrifices made by Indian Muslims .
"There are two types of traitors and terrorism in India. One who plants bombs which kills people, destroys properties and makes widows. Second type of terrorism is conducted by educated people". Shah goes on to speak about Bofors scandal, Satyam scandal and the Kargil coffin scam.
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