19-year-old suspected terrorist held, two hand grenades also recovered

Acting on a secret tip from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Gujarat, a team from the Special Task Force (STF) in Palwal arrested a 19-year-old youth near Pali village in Faridabad. The suspect, believed to be involved in terrorist activities, was found in possession of two hand grenades.

According to a senior STF official, the accused has been identified as Abdul Rehman, a resident of Milkipur town in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Rehman is alleged to have connections with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. The STF team presented him before a city court and secured a 10-day police remand for further interrogation.

While the STF official dismissed rumours, speculation is rife that the ISI had planned to target the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and Rehman was allegedly groomed for this purpose. Abdul, who works as an auto driver and runs a mutton shop in Faizabad, is said to be associated with several groups.

Sources said Rehman had travelled to Faridabad by train from Faizabad on Sunday. There, he reportedly received the hand grenades from a handler. His plan was to return to Ayodhya by train, but a joint operation by the Gujarat ATS and Palwal STF led to his arrest.

During interrogation, Rehman disclosed the location of two hand grenades hidden in a ruined house near Pali village. Teams from the ATS, STF and Faridabad Police conducted a four-hour search and recovered the explosives.

“Based on the input from the Gujarat ATS, we conducted a raid in collaboration with their team and arrested the suspected terrorist, Abdul Rehman. We have taken him on a 10-day police remand for questioning. Two hand grenades were recovered from his possession, and he had arrived in Faridabad only on Sunday. The investigation is ongoing and the full picture will soon become clear,” said a senior STF official.