LeT man accused of planning blasts in Hyderabad arrested

Suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative Mohd Zia Ul Haq, who had planned to set off explosions in crowded localities here, was arrested on Monday, police said.

According to police, Haq was in Hyderabad to activate some of the sleeper cells of LeT. The police department had prior information about his movements in Hyderabad and his plan to cause blasts in some of the busy areas of the city, including shopping malls and crowded streets.

Haq’s arrest comes days after central intelligence agencies issued alerts for Andhra Pradesh and the city police increased surveillance in Hyderabad. Haq was the main accused in the blast that occurred in Odeon cinema at Chikkadpalli on May 7, 2006.

Though police officers did not disclose details of his arrest, they said the LeT operative had infiltrated India through Poonch. Haq, 34, a resident of Edibazar under Bhavani Nagar Police station had two grenades, one Chinese-made pistol with six rounds and a cellphone on him, police said.

Haq was initiated into terror activities by one Abu Ali, a Pakistani national. Ali encouraged Haq and others to do ‘jihad’ by showing video footage of the Godhra carnage and Babri Masjid demolition. Haq was sent to Pakistan in 2002 for training.

After landing in Karachi, he went to Muzaffarabad, where he was received by one Abu Khasim. He got a month’s training in using firearms, including AK-47s.