War-level combing in Faridabad as cops probe links to terror suspects

A day after the arrest of terror-module operatives, the Faridabad Police launched war-level combing and frisking operations in the Dhauj area on Tuesday. While sources claimed that around eight persons were detained from Al-Falah University, where two of the arrested accused worked, Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta denied any detentions.

“Our search operation is ongoing, and our police teams questioned more than 50 people today, but we have not detained anyone. The search operation will continue in different areas of the district in the coming days,” Gupta told The Tribune.

Over 800 police personnel searched a five-km radius around Al-Falah University, Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga village, where explosives and weapons were recovered from two rented rooms. The personnel were accompanied by a bomb-disposal squad. After several hours of searching, police teams found nothing suspicious.

Investigation so far has revealed that Imam Ishtaq, who was detained by the police, said he had rented out his room to an auto-rickshaw driver, who in turn gave the room to Dr Muzzamil. The latter arrived in a car and left after keeping suspicious items in the room.

The police are probing several leads, including Room No. 13 of Building No. 17 on the third floor of Al-Falah University, which was allotted to suspected terrorist Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, alias Musaib. Mohammad Umar Nabi, an accused in the Delhi bombings who has been teaching at the university since May 2024, is also under scrutiny, as are possible links to Gulf funding for the university. Sources said police are questioning the auto-rickshaw driver as well.

Meanwhile, Palwal Police in the neighbouring district also conducted a search and surveillance operation on Tuesday. Security for the Bageshwar Baba Santan Ekta Yatra, currently in Palwal, has been tightened.

“The security of the yatra has been beefed up, with 200 more personnel added to its security fleet. A bomb-disposal squad has also been deployed. Search operations and general checking are underway across the district,” said Varun Singla, SP of Palwal.

In a related development, three people from Gurugram and one from Faridabad were taken in for questioning in connection with the i20 car used in the blast near the Red Fort. The car had been purchased from a dealer named Sonu in Faridabad just four days earlier.