Islamic State threat to Mumbai: SIMI man under ATS scanner

Abdus Subhan Qureshi, an activist with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) group since 1998, has worked closely with Indian Mujahideen (IM) members and was instrumental in providing them ground-level support for most blasts in India since 2005

With the Islamic State (ISIS) threat keeping the security establishment across India vigilant, the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has zeroed-in on Abdus Subhan Qureshi as one of the key people who could provide logistics support to the terror group, if they decide to target Mumbai.

Qureshi, an activist with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) group since 1998, has worked closely with Indian Mujahideen (IM) members and was instrumental in providing them ground-level support for most blasts in India since 2005.

In his 40s, Qureshi has evaded the intelligence agencies for several years. He has slipped out of their net on at least two known occasions, including once from Nepal.

Born in UP, Qureshi, who secured a diploma in industrial electronics from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth at Kharghar in 1995 and later completed the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) course from CMS Institute in Marol, is back under the scanner after the ISIS recently threatened to expand its wings in the Indian sub-continent, especially in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

He has emerged as a vital link especially given his close links with SIMI. Qureshi’s extensive network and knowledge of areas in and around Mumbai poses a major threat, said ATS officials.