Police bust terror module, arrest 5 operatives

Delhi Police have busted a major terror module being run in the guise of an NGO and arrested five operatives, an official said on Thursday. The NGO was being managed by a Pakistan-based handler, and it was trying to recruit youths by brainwashing them, he added.

The module was planning a major attack in the country, he said.

The mastermind, identified as Ashar Danish, was apprehended from Jharkhand’s Ranchi, while two suspects—Aftab and Sufiyan, both residents of Mumbai—were arrested from Delhi on Tuesday. Muzapa was held from Telangana, while one more operative, Kamran, has also been arrested, the official said.

Danish, the kingpin of the module, used to be known under different names such as CEO, Gazba and Professor, he said.

“The raids were carried out after intelligence inputs indicated that a module was planning a major terror attack in the country. We have been tracking them for the last six months,” the official said.

Searches at multiple locations have led to the recovery of a large quantity of chemicals, ball bearings and other materials used in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were recovered, he said.

“Police teams recovered components and electronic equipment used in making IEDs. Several chemicals, including sodium bicarbonate, along with gas masks, electrical cables, fuse points, wires and other electrical equipment were seized,” he added.

In Ranchi, a raid at Danish’s hideout led to the recovery of chemicals and other materials suspected to be used in making explosives, police said.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the module was in touch with Pakistan-based handlers and was preparing for a large-scale attack,” police said, adding that the handlers used only social media platforms for communication.

The suspects are being interrogated and efforts are under way to ascertain their network, funding and potential targets. The Central agencies are analysing the digital devices seized from the suspects to track their contacts and possible international links, police said.

The arrests have averted a possible terror strike in the country, they added. —with PTI