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Al Qaeda is already in India, here's how

This faction of Indian Mujahideen believes ISI is going slow on India and split the terrorist organisation

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Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri Reuters
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On September 3, al Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri announced the setting up of an India branch. Security agencies have identified the possible terror operatives who could be part of that branch. They are from the Azamgarh module of the dreaded home-grown terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), sources say. Azamgarh is in Uttar Pradesh.

dna had, on September 24, reported that the India chief of al Qaeda is a terrorist called Aasim Umar.

In the September 3 video, Zawahiri said the India branch of his global armed group would spread Islamic rule and "raise the flag of jihad" across the subcontinent.

Indian counter-terrorism and intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on the activities of IM within India and near the borders.

Says a senior official from the security establishment, "After the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011, the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) decided to go slow on India as they did not want any international embarrassment. However, this did not go well with a few IM members and it led to a split within IM."

A year ago, the IM split into two factions in Pakistan. While one, comprising Riyaz Bhatkal, his brother Iqbal and Mohsin Chaudhary, remained under the control of the ISI, the other, which is the Azamgarh module of IM, comprises Bada Sajid and Dr Shahnawaz.

The latter drifted away from the ISI and reportedly approached al Qaeda, intelligence sources say.

"As per our information, it is this faction which played a key role in coaxing the Qaeda leadership to turn its attention to India. In that sense, Qaeda would be doing operations in India through the existing sleeper cell modules of Azamgarh," sources said.

Some of the most wanted members of the Azamgarh module are Ariz Khan, Mirza Shahdab Baig, Mohammad Sajid, Mohammad Khalid, Abu Rashid and Sharfuddin.

"We have examined the al Qaeda threat and is taking it seriously. We are formulating all possible counter-terrorism measures to meet the challenge," said Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Himanshu Roy.

al Qaeda in Maharashtra
In February 2012, the Maharashtra ATS arrested Haroon Rashid Naik alias Umar Akbar alias Mushtaq Shaikh alias Salauddin (33), a resident of Mumbra and an active member of IM, for his alleged involvement in the July 12, 2011, Mumbai serial blasts. He was found possessing counterfeit Indian currency notes. Naik had visited Pakistan illegally and had undergone arms training. He had also allegedly attended a speech session by slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and also participated in the war against US forces in Kandahar after consulting Sheikh Omar, a 9/11 suspect who was also involved in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Who is Dr Shahnawaz?
Dr Shahnawaz was the most crucial member in the IM, for the Delhi module at least. Closely associated with the Bhatkal brothers, Shahnawaz, a resident of Azamgarh, UP, is said to be controlling operations from Sharjah. His name came to light during the deadly Delhi blasts and again during the Batla house encounter, after which he managed to flee the country. Shahnawaz is the brother of Atif Amin, who was killed during the Batla House encounter. Amin was one of the co-founders of IM.

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