New Delhi (Agency): Investigations into the recent arrest of five alleged terrorists in Bengaluru, who were believed to be planning destructive actions in the city, have exposed ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a notorious terrorist organization. Sources have confirmed that the plot’s chief, Mohammad Junaid, was orchestrating operations from Afghanistan.
Junaid, a sheep trader from Sultanpalya in Hebbal, Bengaluru, reportedly maintained direct contact with LeT operatives. It’s understood he used these terror networks to leave India in 2021 and has since been operating near the Afghanistan borders, issuing commands to his associates in Bengaluru.
Officials have already passed on details about Junaid to Interpol, the international police organization.
The investigations also unveiled connections between Junaid and Nasir, a current inmate at Bengaluru Central Prison and suspect in the Bengaluru serial bomb blast case.
Given the case’s gravity, the Karnataka Police are considering transferring it to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Junaid’s past reveals a disturbing transformation. After a degrading and violent incident over financial disputes in 2017, where he was stripped semi-naked and assaulted in front of his wife, Junaid kidnapped and killed Noor Ahmad, the man responsible. This led to the arrest of 21 individuals, including Junaid. However, during his time in jail, Junaid was manipulated into adopting jihadist ideologies, according to the police.
After being released from jail, Junaid was again arrested, this time linked to the illegal transport of red sanders. But, after being granted bail, he left the country in 2021.
The Bengaluru Central City Crime Branch (CCB) is gathering more information about him and his network. Sources have suggested that if the arrests had not taken place, the group might have carried out devastating attacks in Bengaluru.
On Wednesday, the CCB arrested Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammad Faizal Rabbani, Mohammad Umar Muddassir Pasha, and Zahid Tabrez, confiscating a substantial amount of explosives, weapons, and equipment.
