NIA arrests al-Qaeda operative for conspiracy to conduct blast in Lucknow
Srinagar: The NIA has arrested “an al-Qaeda operative”, a resident of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to carry out an IED blast here, the investigation agency said in a press release on Tuesday.
Tawheed Ahmad Shah, son of Bashir Ahmad Shah of Akbar Colony, Aribagh, Machowa, was arrested on Monday, the press release informed.
It said the case was registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in July last year in Gomtinagar police station against the accused “who had entered into a conspiracy for recruiting members for the global terrorist organisation al-Qaeda’s affiliate Ansaar Gajwatul Hind (AGH) and for committing terrorist acts in Lucknow,” the NIA press release said.
Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested five accused in the case against whom a charges sheet was filed last month.
“Tawheed was the mastermind of the conspiracy for recruitment and to commit terrorist acts in the name of AGH (Ansaar Gajwatul Hind), including procurement of arms, ammunition and explosive materials to be used for attacks in Uttar Pradesh,” the NIA said, adding that further investigation in the case continues.
