Obaid received orders from Pakistan: Police

The Pakistan based handler of the terror module busted across three states last week was directly in touch with Obaid-ur-Rehman, the Hyderabadi who is among 14 people arrested so far, top sources disclosed on Monday.

 In fact, Obaid was allegedly instructed by the handler to arrange accommodation and logistics for four terror suspects from Nanded who were sent to Hyderabad to conduct recce of a target: three corporators.

 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to take over the probe of the terror bust from the Bangalore police.

 ‘’The arrests have been made in three states and there is a Pakistani and Saudi Arabian angle to it.

 So the case is likely to be transferred to the NIA shortly,’’ sources said.

 An NIA team led by inspector-general Ravishankar Ayyanar is already camping in Bangalore.

 Highly-placed sources disclosed to Express that Obaid had come in contact with the handler, said to be a Lashkar- e-Taiba (LeT) operative, through Mohammed Akram, a Nanded native arrested in Bangalore.

 Akram came in contact with members of different terror outfits including Lashkar when he was in Saudi Arabia for a year.

 He was then tagged to the Karachibased handler.

 Subsequently, he introduced Obaid to the Pakistani handler, after which instructions started coming to the Hyderabadi youngster directly.

 Some four months ago, four youngsters from Nanded, including Akram, arrived in the city for their recce.

 They were received by Obaid and lodged in a safe house in the Old City.

 ‘’All four had changed their names.

 Prior to their arrival, the Pakistani handler, who goes by many aliases, called up Obaid to arrange the logistics,’’ sources said.

 The group from Nanded then did recces of the houses of the three corporators during a stay of over 15 days.

 ‘’Contrary to the claim by Obaid’s family that he is innocent, we have ample proof of his taking instructions from Pakistan,’’ sources said.

 Some e-mails too were allegedly exchanged.

 Sources said that once the operation -- of killing the three corporators -- was over, the Pakistani handler reportedly assured Obaid that he would be taken to Saudi Arabia and then to Pakistan for training.