NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Particular Cell has busted a terror module allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers working from Bangladesh, arresting eight suspects and stopping a “main untoward incident.”The operation spanned Delhi, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, uncovering a community accused of pasting anti-national posters, conducting reconnaissance and planning terror actions on the behest of Pakistan’s ISI and Bangladesh-based operatives.
Anti-India posters set off probe
The case started on February 7, when anti-national posters had been discovered pasted on pillars on the Kashmiri Gate Metro station and close by areas in Delhi.Addressing a press convention, Further CP (Particular Cell) Pramod Kumar Kushwaha mentioned, “A crew from the Particular Cell busted a module that was being dealt with by a Lashkar handler primarily based in Bangladesh. A serious untoward incident has been prevented. On February seventh, anti-national posters had been pasted on pillars on the Kashmiri Gate Metro station and a few close by metro stations in Delhi. The CISF observed this and introduced it to the eye of the Metro unit of the Delhi Police. The Particular Cell crew went to Kolkata.” Two suspects Umar Farooq and Bangladeshi nationwide Robil Ul Islam had been arrested in Kolkata with the assistance of native police.Kushwaha mentioned, “With the assistance of the native police, two folks had been arrested, and certainly one of these two folks was Umar Farooq and with him a Bangladeshi, Robil Ul Islam. Each of them had been arrested, they usually revealed that anti-India posters had been put up at many locations in Delhi, the posters that echoed terrorists, had been put up by these two. Later, it was came upon via interrogation and investigation that the route to them was being given by Shabbir Ahmed Lone, from Bangladesh.” Police sources mentioned that 4 of the eight accused had earlier come to Delhi and pasted “Free Kashmir” and different provocative posters at a metro station throughout the AI Summit earlier than returning to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Bangladesh-based handler recognized
Investigations revealed that the module was allegedly directed by Shabbir Ahmed Lone, a resident of Ganderbal in Kashmir, presently primarily based in Bangladesh.“In 2007, Shabbir Ahmed Lone was arrested, and AK-47, grenades had been discovered on him, and he had come for ‘fidayeen’ to kill a senior political chief…He remained in jail for a few years and was launched in 2019. After his launch, he once more fled to Bangladesh. He’s a resident of Ganderbal, Kashmir. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he reconnected with the LeT management and re-established his organisation to hold out terrorist actions,” Kushwaha mentioned.Based on police, Lone allegedly reassembled his associates and performed dry runs in a number of cities.“He (Lone) reassembled his males and performed dry runs with these males. He had posters put up in varied areas. He did so not simply in Delhi, but in addition in Kolkata. On February tenth, he put up anti-India posters at a number of metro stations and different areas in Kolkata. He additionally rented a home in Kolkata…” Kushwaha added.
Raids in Tamil Nadu; dozen cellphones & SIM playing cards seized
Additional investigation led the Particular Cell to Tamil Nadu, the place six extra suspects, all Bangladeshi nationals had been arrested with the help of the Tamil Nadu Police.“The investigation revealed that some people who’re Bangladeshi nationals had been in Tamil Nadu. They had been going to take them again to Kolkata and plant them in a terrorist exercise earlier than they may do something. The crew then went to Tamil Nadu and, with the assistance of the Tamil Nadu police, arrested six extra folks, all of whom are Bangladeshi nationals,” Kushwaha mentioned.Earlier, police had recognized six accused from Tamil Nadu, Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Shabat, Umar, Mohammad Litan, Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Ujjal, who had been arrested and delivered to Delhi.Two had been picked up from Uthukuli, three from Palladam and one from Thirumuruganpoondi. They had been working within the garment trade and allegedly concealing their identities utilizing faux Aadhaar playing cards.In the course of the raids, police recovered dozens of cellphones and SIM playing cards. In a single section of the operation alone, eight cellphones and 16 SIM playing cards had been seized, ANI reported.Officers mentioned the accused had been involved with one another via social media and had been allegedly posting content material in assist of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations. Investigators additionally suspect the group performed reconnaissance of a number of cities.
Bigger terror alert
The crackdown comes amid intelligence inputs warning of a attainable terror risk within the nationwide capital. ANI sources mentioned Lashkar-e-Taiba could also be plotting an IED assault, with a temple within the Chandni Chowk space and areas across the Purple Fort doubtlessly on the radar.“Blast alert in entrance of the Purple Fort in Delhi. Terrorists could goal a temple in Chandni Chowk. Lashkar-e-Taiba is plotting an IED assault. They’re planning a significant terrorist assault in India to avenge the February sixth mosque blast in Islamabad, Pakistan. Main temples within the nation could be focused by Lashkar-e-Taiba,” intelligence sources mentioned.Police mentioned all eight accused are being delivered to Delhi for additional interrogation and that the investigation is ongoing.
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