Terror suspects detained in Delhi for plotting terror strike at Ardh Kumbh

Haridwar, Jan. 20 (ANI): In a joint operation carried out by intelligence agencies, the Delhi Police’s special cell arrested four terror suspects here.

The four accused, all between the18 and 22 years of age, were reportedly also planning to target trains bringing pilgrims to the district. “We constituted a team for this directly under the supervision of DGP Tihar Jail Alok Kumar Verma and DCP Pramod Kushwaha”, said Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep. Though the Police said that they have averted a major terror strike in the Ardh Kumbh Mela, the upcoming Republic Day ceremony in the national capital continues to be a cause of concern for the security agencies.

Police has arrested four suspected terrorists from Haridwar in Uttarakhand for plotting attacks in Delhi and nearby areas.

The youths have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which does not include the Arms Act as no weapons were recovered from them.

The suspects, identified as Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz, were arrested from Manglour town in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district on Tuesday and produced in a court here on Wednesday. One suspect, Akhlaq has told interrogators about impending stries.

The youngsters frequently visited Islamic State’s websites as well as the group’s pages on social media and also interacted with IS supporters through Whatsapp, the source said.

The suspect had planned to make explosives out of matchsticks, a government source said.

Sources said Akhlak was in touch with a former Indian Mujahideen member, who is believed to have escaped from India to Syria, and often talked him through VOIP and other internet links.

The arrests confirmed the presence of Daesh in India for the first time, transforming what was till now a concern into an actual security threat.