Dacoity case: CB arrests Thadiyantavide Nazeer

KOCHI: The crime branch team probing the dacoity case, involving suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) activists, at Kizhakkambalam, on Thursday arrested suspected LeT operative Thadiyantavide Nazeer who is said to be the mastermind behind the dacoity case.
The team led by detective inspector Biju K Stephen met Nazeer at Ernakulam sub-jail, where he has been lodged in connection with the trial of various terror cases.
Police sources said that the team reached the sub-jail in the afternoon and formally recorded the arrest of Nazeer in the dacoity case. "We have recorded the formal arrest of Nazeer in the case and an application will be moved in the court seeking his police custody for detailed interrogation," the officials said.
The investigation team also took the two accused - K P Shabeer and Ismail alias Bomb Ismail - who are in their custody to various places in the district as part of evidence collection. The accused were also taken to the residence of another suspect Thajuddin, at Vedimara near Paravoor where they prepared bombs which were hurled at the spot where the jewellery owner was attacked on June 20, 2002 and his bag containing 2.25 kg of gold was looted.
"Some of the witnesses have identified Ismail. The team will seek the support of Bangalore police in the case as a few suspects in the case have links with those who have been arrested by the Bangalore police in connection with the Bangalore serial bomb blasts case," the officials said.
The arrest of the two suspected LeT activists in connection with the dacoity case has brought to light the various criminal activities undertaken by the LeT in Kerala for raising funds to fuel their operations.