Intel alert after ATS reveals terror suspect’s ‘fidayeen’ plans on I-Day
Suspected terror operative Ahmad Raza planned a suicide attack on Independence Day in India, according to the state's anti-terror squad. Raza had received firearms training in secret terror camps in Jammu and Kashmir. He was influenced by Hizbul Mujahideen leaders Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa and was in contact with a Pakistan-based handler and two Hizbul commanders. Another terror suspect, Firdaus Ahmad Darr, was also arrested and accused of recruiting Raza to Hizbul Mujahideen. Both suspects are in custody and further investigations are ongoing.
Security and intelligence agencies have been put on alert following a disclosure made by the state’s anti-terror squad (ATS) that suspected terror operative, Ahmad Raza (24), arrested by it from Moradabad on August 3, had planned a ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) attack on Independence Day (August 15).
ATS officials said Raza confessed his plan during the 14-day custody remand, that will continue till August 17.
The officials said they were still verifying details of the terror plan and added that Raza will be taken to a few places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag and Srinagar where he had taken up firearms training in secret terror camps.
UP ATS also shared a detailed press note in which its officials shared that on the direction of Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror operative Waleed, Raza had even purchased a US made automatic pistol.
The ATS officials said a .32 bore US make pistol along with magazine and six live cartridges, hidden at a secret place near Raza’s village in Moradabad, had also been recovered.
Officials said he will be taken to Saharanpur to procure more information about his nefarious intentions and plans. The ATS said Raza was allegedly influenced by Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa and was in regular touch with a Pakistan-based handler and two Hizbul commanders. He allegedly received firearms training at two places in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022 and recently, during the month of Ramzan, the officials said.
Officials said Raza received training in secret terror camps in Jammu and Kashmir with help from Firdaus Ahmad Darr, another terror suspect arrested by ATS from Anantnag on August 4. Darr is also presently in ATS custody 14-days till August 19.
ATS officials said Darr’s uncle Ghulam Ahmad Darr was also a terrorist and was killed in encounter with Indian Army in 1994. They said he was deeply influenced by his uncle and Hizbul Mujahideen’s poster boy Zakir Musa.
The officials Darr had radicalized Ahmad Raza through his chats and Jihadi contents provided to him on chats and recruited him to Hizbul Mujahideen. They said Darr was in regular touch with Pakistani handler Gazi through different messaging applications and added that Gazi promised Darr to provide a consignment of firearms, ammunitions and explosives to carry out terror activities in the valley and eventually establish the Sharia law in India.
ATS officials said Darr was also asked to recruit people across the country for this mission and added that he confessed having undergone firearms training in Hizbul camps.
