UAPA slapped on accused after confession

In 10-day police remand, suspected terrorist Abdul Rehman has finally confessed that he was tasked with carrying out an attack on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. After this revelation, the Faridabad police have slapped the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him.

A senior police officer said after his remand, he was produced in a city court on Thursday, and sent to judicial custody. The case will now be investigated by an ACP-rank officer.

During investigation, the Special Task Force (STF), Palwal, had also recovered four mobile phones from Rehman's possession. When he was arrested with hand grenades, two mobile phones were also recovered. The accused revealed that he used the phones to remain in touch with a terrorist organisation.

“Rehman revealed that he had taken the oath of the terrorist organisation, the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), a regional branch of the Salafi jihadist group Islamic State (IS) about a year ago. He started working on the instructions of the terrorist organisation after the 'pran pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya last year. He was brainwashed through video calls and objectionable information was given to him. Inspired by the training on video calling, he performed a recce of the temple. We are now focusing on an unidentified handler who gave him the location to reach Pali village, and are also on the lookout for the auto driver who took him to Pali,” said a senior STF investigator.

It was also revealed that terrorists had planned to attack the temple on Ram Navami on April 6. A senior investigating officer said the accused confessed that the target was the Ram Temple, but the date and time had not been decided yet.