Bihar: Arrested 'terrorist' linked to Taliban

After five days-long interrogation of a suspected terrorist arrested last week, Bihar police disclosed on Tuesday that he had close links with the dreaded Taliban.

Police arrested Ghulam Rasool Khan alias Khan Mirza, an Afghanistani national, in Purnia district on January 13, on the basis of an intelligence report, Purnia Superintendent of Police N H Khan told rediff.com over phone.

Soon after the arrest, Mirza was brought to Patna for further interrogation.

"Police interrogated him for hours during the last four days," police sources said. "Khan Mirza alias Ghulam Rasool confessed during the long interrogation that he has links with the Taliban," a top police official U S Dutt told rediff.com in Patna.

Purnia SP Khan said on Tuesday evening that Ghulam Rasool alias Khan Mirza was sent to jail after he was produced in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Purnia.

Police will take him on remand after two to three days, police sources added.

Dutt said that police was investigating into whether Mirza was having any connection with the Al Qaeda, a dangerous terrorist outfit.

Police said that Mirza was arrested when he was planning to sneak into Bangladesh through the Indo-Bangla border in Purnia district.

Police have recovered a Pakistani passport and other documents from him.

Bihar's Purnia division, particularly Kishanganj district, shares borders with Nepal and Bangladesh and reportedly has become a safe haven for terrorists in the last few months. Even Intelligence Bureau has alerted state government about it.