SYED SHOEB Hasan alias Hamza, the Lucknow-based lieutenant of Harqat-ul-Jihadi Al Islam (HuJi), was playing role of a conduit for the organization here.
Several Bangladesh-based HuJi members and India-based area commanders used to visit Shoeb’s place whenever required. Recently, two HuJi militants Rizwan and Saad had stayed at his house before the Varanasi blasts.
Besides executing operations assigned by area commander Wali Ullah, Shoeb was also given task of recruiting youngsters for the organization.
Shoeb, who belongs to a lower middle class family, had volunteered to join Bangladesh-based organization HuJi soon after he met Wali Ullah in Haidergarh, Barabanki in 2004. Wali’s father-in-law Hanif had introduced Shoeb to him (Wali).
During interrogation with STF and IB officials, Shoeb had revealed that Wali had taken him to Phoolpur, Allahabad where he had shown him the brochures containing plans of the ISI and the HuJi. Wali had also given a detailed lecture on the objectives of the organization. After convincing him to join the battle for religion and taking his consent Wali talked to HuJi commander Asad Ullah about Shoeb.
Later, Wali provided money to Shoeb asking him to procure a passport to go to Bangladesh. Shoeb got his passport made from Lucknow passport office in 2004.
He later went to Kolkata where he procured a visa for Bangladesh visit. The VISA was valid for 20 days.
Later, Wali provided money to Shoeb asking him to procure a passport to go to Bangladesh. Shoeb got his passport made from Lucknow passport office in 2004.
He later went to Kolkata where he procured a visa for Bangladesh visit. The VISA was valid for 20 days.
ASP STF Rajesh Pandey who conducted the operation said that after staying with Asad Ullah in Bangladesh Shoeb went to Pakistan on a fake passport. The fake passport carried his real name but it mentioned address of Dhaka. The IB had confirmed the entry of both real and fake passports at India-Bangladesh and Bangladesh-Pakistan borders.
Shoeb underwent training in Pakistan and returned to his Lucknow residence after three months.
Rajesh Pandey further revealed that Shoeb and Rizwan had gone to Bangladesh border to receive delivery of arms and ammunition concealed in fruit cartons in March 2005.
Later, Shoeb and Rizwan had also attended a congregation in Amroha where Bangladesh-based HuJi members had come. Shueb was regular visitor to Deoband also.
Shoeb had lured Farhan of Saadatganj about six months back. Farhan had started accompanying Shoeb to all meetings organized to discuss HuJi plans.