Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 31: Delhi Police on Saturday claimed to have uncovered a Pakistan ISI-linked terror module with alleged connections to the underworld and arrested eight persons, including a Nepali national, in a multi-state operation.
According to police, the accused were allegedly planning attacks on vital installations, security establishments and police personnel in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and several cities in Punjab.
Officials said the operation exposed a conspiracy allegedly involving Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), underworld operatives and the network of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, who is believed to be operating from Pakistan and Dubai.
The arrests were made in Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi. Investigators said the accused were in contact with handlers based in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Police identified one of the key accused as 23-year-old Vijay alias 'Shooter' from Mirzapur, who was arrested in Pune on May 14. Based on information provided by him, his associate Nitish Paswan, also 23, was arrested from Sahibganj on May 17.
Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Anil Shukla said Vijay was allegedly in regular contact with members of the Shahzad Bhatti network and had been assigned tasks involving criminal and terror-related activities across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. He was also allegedly instructed to recruit youth for terror operations in the Delhi-NCR region.
During interrogation, Vijay and Nitish reportedly disclosed the existence of terror modules in Delhi and Mumbai. Police said the duo revealed that reconnaissance had already been conducted at several bridges in Mumbai and around Dadar railway station.
Acting on these disclosures, police arrested Tauqeer Sheikh and Arbaz Khan from Mumbai last week. Investigators alleged that both were in contact with ISI handlers identified as Yawar Khan and Munna Jhingada.
Police claimed the duo had been recruited by a Mumbai-based operative named Huzaifa, who is currently absconding and allegedly worked under the directions of Shahzad Bhatti and other Pakistan-based handlers.
According to investigators, the accused were tasked with carrying out grenade attacks and firing incidents targeting key installations, security establishments and police personnel in Delhi and Mumbai.
Further investigation led police to three Punjab residents — Harvinder Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Manjeet Singh — who were intercepted on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in Delhi during the early hours of Saturday.
Police said a large cache of arms and ammunition, including grenades and automatic pistols, was recovered from their possession.
A Nepali national, Ang Kami Lama, was also arrested. Police alleged that he had been assigned the responsibility of arranging hideouts and funding activities of the terror operatives in Delhi.
According to investigators, Lama had served a prison sentence in Thailand between 2001 and 2018 in a narcotics case, during which he allegedly came into contact with Pakistani nationals, including Munna Jhingada. Police claim he maintained links with the network after his release.
Senior police officials said the case indicates a possible reactivation of networks linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The arrests come weeks after intelligence agencies reportedly warned of possible terror attacks in the national capital. Intelligence inputs had suggested the possibility of suicide attacks and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
According to sources, potential targets included the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party in central Delhi and other crowded locations.
Earlier in April, the Special Cell had arrested 11 persons during raids across Delhi and Punjab, recovering weapons, surveillance equipment and solar-powered CCTV cameras allegedly installed near government establishments.
Police said further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the network and uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.