Terror suspects who were nabbed by Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror squad were planning to attack Pakistan origin Canadian author Tarek Fatah. The attack was planned when the author would have visited India. The revelation were allegedly made by two of the suspects during interrogation. The ATS, in a joint operation last week, arrested five terror suspects from five states. The suspects have been identified as Nazim Shamshad alias Umar, Zeeshan alias Ghazi Baba alias Muzammil, Faizan alias Mufti and Ahtesham from Mumbai, Punjab, Bijnor in UP and Narkatiyaganj inBihar, respectively, Indian Express reported. Those arrested were suspected to be part of an ISIS module that was looking for potential recruits in Bihar, UP and Maharashtra.
“We have shared information collected during interrogation with central agencies. The accused have revealed they planned to attack Tarek Fatah. They also wanted to kill any police officer in Mumbai Police,” an ATS officer told the daily.
The officer also said that while being interrogated Faizan revealed that he first tried to purchase explosives in Bijnor which failed, subsequently he had contacted a Mumbai youth for the same.
“During interrogation, Faizan said he was in touch with a youth in Mumbai for the purchase of explosives and weapons after their contact in Bijnor, who was paid advance for the explosives, failed to deliver the consignment…We have sent details of Faizan’s contact to the Mumbai Police,” the officer said.
Faizan and Ahtesham had also said that they were planning to target a crowded market or a fair in Haridwar, Shia Eidgah at Naugawan Sadat in Amroha, torch a sugar mill at Narkatiaganj in Bihar and also target cylinder or battery shops in any market, according to the officer.
