UP ATS Busts Al Qaeda-Linked Terror Module in Lucknow, Arrests Two Suspected Terrorists

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday said it has busted a terror module linked to Al-Qaeda in Lucknow after it nabbed two terrorists from the Kakori area of the city. A team of ATS launched a search operation in the area today afternoon. The two suspects have been taken into custody and are being interrogated.

The ATS has received information that an Al-Qaeda terrorist based near Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Umar Halmandi, was trying to recruit Indian youths for the terror outfit. Halmandi had identified a few marginalised people in Lucknow to radicalise and recruit them into the AQIS organisation.

UP ADG, law and order, Prashant Kumar said, “We have busted a big terror module linked to Al Qaeda.”

This module was being readied under Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), an offshoot of Al Qaeda, which has been set up to carry out terror activities, the police said in a press release.

Those arrested have been identified as Minhaz Ahmed and Masiruddin aka Mushir. A third accomplice has been identified as Shakeel. The three were receiving instructions from Halmandi to carry out terror activities in various cities of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, before August 15, police said.

Minhaz and Masiruddin were apprehended on Sunday after ATS commandos surrounded the house, they had gathered in, from all sides. The bomb disposal squad was also called in to the spot. In this operation being led by IG GK Goswami, two pressure cooker bombs, time bombs and a huge cache of arms have been recovered so far.

As per sources, the ATS was keeping an eye on this house, which belongs to a person named Shahid, for a long time due to suspicious activities of visitors, especially one named Waseem.

The ATS started the search operation today after the information was confirmed. Local police were also present on the spot. The ATS sealed the Kakori area and evacuated the nearby houses.

Around three to four suspicious youths were seen visiting the house for several days, of which two were held today while search is on to nab other suspects.

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