Shocking revelations in the investigation of Lashkar terrorist module: Big cities including Delhi, Mumbai were the target, conspiracy to attack on Holi failed.
Shocking revelations have emerged in the investigation of the suspected module of Lashkar-e-Taiba captured in the capital. According to Delhi Police Special Cell, A network of youth of Bangladeshi origin was created under the alleged conspiracy of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Investigative agencies claim that this network was being operated by a Lashkar commander sitting in Bangladesh. It is being told that he allegedly held a meeting and prepared the complete outline of the attacks and gave instructions to the network.
Investigation of the suspected terrorist module has revealed that many big cities of the country were the target of terrorists. According to Delhi Police Special Cell, the module had planned to target major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. According to sources, the suspects had also conducted recce of some sensitive places and preparations were being made to attack on the occasion of Holi. After input from intelligence agencies, the police intensified the action and busted the module.
Direct contact with Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi
According to the investigating agencies, a big terrorist network has been exposed in which the role of Bangladeshi handler Shabbir Ahmed Lone is said to be important. Officials claim that he was in direct contact with top terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, who are associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to the police, ISI was conspiring to prepare a local module through Bangladeshi citizens living illegally in India. Funding was also being given to this network so that coordinated attacks could be carried out in big cities of the country. Investigation revealed that Shabbir was working as a link between ISI and suspected terrorist of Bangladeshi origin Saidul Islam. Saidul allegedly instructed the suspects and helped them identify potential targets.
caught in 2007, Active again in 2018
According to Special Cell, Shabbir Ahmed Lone has been associated with terrorist activities for a long time. Investigation revealed that he was arrested with AK-47 and hand grenade during a suicide attack plot in 2007. After completing his sentence, he came out of jail in 2018, but after his release, he became active again and joined Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to officials, after coming out of jail, he made his base in Bangladesh, while maintaining contacts with ISI and Pakistan-based networks. It is being told that he reactivated his old contacts and started recruiting new people.
Investigating agencies say that he was trying to influence the youth through social media platforms and connect them with the network. Investigation of his digital trail (online activities) has yielded many important clues, from which information about possible modules, funding and contacts is being collected.
Social media module
Police investigation has revealed that the arrested suspects were first brought in contact through social media and gradually they were linked to the radical network. After this, some of the accused were called to Bangladesh and a meeting was held, where the planning and responsibilities of the attacks were allegedly decided. According to officials, Umar Farooq, who was caught from Kolkata, was given the responsibility of recce (espionage) of sensitive and crowded places. Also, the suspects were instructed to create safe havens by taking flats on rent in different cities, so that their activities remain unnoticed. Forensic examination of mobile phones and other digital devices has yielded evidence of videos, chats and suspicious contacts allegedly related to arms collection efforts. Investigating agencies say that on the basis of this digital evidence, other members of the network and funding sources are also being identified.
operation continues, raids in many states
The operation of Delhi Police Special Cell is still going on and the investigating agencies are trying to reach the remaining people associated with this module. Due to the fear of some suspects absconding, simultaneous raids are being conducted in many states. The arrested accused will be brought to Delhi for questioning, so that the entire network and its funding and contacts can be traced.
Police officials say that the conspiracy was foiled in time, but it is yet to reach other ends of the network. The investigating agencies are also trying to find out how deep the roots of this module were in different cities of the country and whether other people were also involved in it. In view of the possible danger, security agencies are on alert mode. Security arrangements have been tightened in big metros like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, especially surveillance has been increased in crowded areas, markets and festival related events.
Secret of module revealed through controversial poster
Investigation by Delhi Police Special Cell has revealed that four of the eight arrested suspects had tried to test the atmosphere and security response by putting up controversial posters like ‘Free Kashmir’ in Delhi. After this he returned to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. According to officials, this poster campaign was a kind of “trial run” so that the response time of police and intelligence agencies, surveillance system and security of sensitive areas could be estimated. Investigating agencies believe that the real motive was to prepare for a major attack. With this clue, the entire network was exposed and further action was intensified. Intelligence inputs had already indicated that Lashkar-e-Taiba was trying to set up a local module in India with the support of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
In another input, the fear of attack around the Red Fort was also expressed, after which the security of many important places of the capital including that area was increased. The agencies are especially alert in view of the festive season, because warnings had been received earlier also that there could be an attempt at a major crime during Holi.
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