An engineer, accused was netted during Anti-Terrorism Squad crackdown in Marathwada
Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday morning arrested an engineer from Parbhani with one kg of improvised explosive device (IED) and other explosive articles. The accused is said to be an associate of Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, who was arrested by the ATS few days ago. Nasir was in touch with a Syria based handler who instigated him to plan attacks in India.
The arrested person has been identified as Shahed Khan, 24, a Prabhani resident. Khan, an engineer by profession and belongs to a middle-class family.
On July 14 ATS officials had arrested Chaus, a Parbhani resident for allegedly being in touch with Islamic State (IS) members over social media. Chaus had reportedly created at least 18 bogus accounts on social media through which he was in touch with his handler in Syria identified as Farooq. The suspect also had plans to flee to Syria and join the banned outfit after doing some terrorist activities in India, police said.
According to police sources, Chaus's interrogation had revealed that he had got explosives made in order to commit terrorist activities and he had sent photograph of the explosive to IS members in Syria. "Chaus was grilled further on this and he told the police that the explosive was in the custody of Shahed Khan. A raid was then conducted at Khan's place and IED was seized. We are probing if more IED's were made by the duo and if more persons are involved in the module," said an ATS officer, requesting anonymity.
Khan was produced before a local court in Aurangabad on Sunday afternoon and was remanded to police custody till July 29.
Meanwhile, additional director general of police, ATS, Atulchandra Kulkarni during an interaction with a community at Latur stated that their participation is required to combat terrorism. "I wanted to assure the community that agencies do not register the offence directly and the counselling programme is also in place," he said.
Kulkarni also reportedly stated that more than hundreds of suspected youths have been brought back from airport in past two years. He later clarified that many people are brought back by different agencies and not just the ATS.
Cracking the whip
* July 14: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials have arrested Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, a Parbhani resident for allegedly being in touch with IS members over social media. The alleged sympathiser had created at least 18 bogus accounts on social media through which he was in touch with his handler in Syria identified as Farooq. The suspect also had plans to flee to Syria and join the banned outfit.
* July 21- In a joint operation , Maharashtra ATS and Kerala police conducted a raid in Navi Mumbai and picked up Arshi Qureshi from his Seawoods residence. A case under sections 153A (for promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and relavant section of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in Kochi police station. Qureshi, who is associated with IRF was arrested by the ATS after it was alleged that he was instrumental in forced conversion of few youth and motivated them to join IS.
* July 22: In a joint operation by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Kerala Police, one Rizwan Khan, who was allegedly instrumental in recruiting youths for terror outfit Islamic State (IS), was apprehended from his Kalyan residence in Thane. A case has also been registered against him in Kerala in connection with conversion issues.
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