Police officials on Wednesday said that they busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist cell after arresting three people suspects who were planning a terror strike on Delhi and neighbouring areas, adding that nine suspects, alleged to have links with the Pakistan-based terror outfit, were being questioned by them.
Police officials said that the module was active and plotting to target “sensitive and crowded” areas in the national capital region.
Police said that this terrorist module was being closely watched by security and intelligence officials for some time. They said that it was busted after the police carried out separate raids in parts of Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. An IED has been recovered from their possession.
“Three have been arrested and they will be brought to a Delhi court (on Wednesday afternoon),” a police official said, adding nine more were detained and were being questioned for possible links to the JeM and for providing logistical support to the terror cell.
Among those arrested is Sajid, identified by his first name only, who is in his early 20s. He was said to be one of the most wanted terrorists one of whose hands got burnt while preparing a bomb sometime ago. Sajid was arrested from Gokulpuri in east Delhi.
“He is the main accused and was perhaps heading the module,” the official added. The other two arrested were Shakir and Sameer, also known by their first names. They too were said to be directly linked to Jaish, which was blamed for the 2 January attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.
Police said search operations were on at different places in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Arvind Deep, the Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said that most suspects were below 30. “Some of them are permanent residents of Delhi and some are from Uttar Pradesh.”