Bengaluru: In a significant operation, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru apprehended five suspected terrorists today, who were allegedly planning a terror attack in the capital city of Karnataka. The arrests come as a major breakthrough in the efforts to thwart potential threats to public safety.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Suhail, Omar, Zahid, Mudasir, and Faisal, all residents of Bengaluru and aged between 25 and 35. Notably, these individuals had previously been arrested in 2017 in connection with a murder case and spent 18 months in jail before their release in 2019.
According to the police, another suspect named Junaid, hailing from Bengaluru’s RT Nagar area, is still at large, and authorities are currently on the lookout for him. It is believed that Junaid, who is believed to have settled abroad, is the mastermind behind providing arms and explosives to the five arrested individuals.
The police’s swift action led to the seizure of explosive materials from the suspects’ possession, along with the discovery of firearms and daggers in their possession at the time of arrest. Further investigation into their activities revealed that they had been in contact with a terror accused named T Nazeer, who is currently incarcerated in Bengaluru Central Jail (Parapanna Agrahara).
Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Dayanand B, disclosed that the five suspects had been radicalized by Nazeer, indicating a concerning trend of radicalization within correctional facilities. The authorities have intensified their efforts to track down Junaid and are coordinating with central agencies to apprehend him at the earliest.
According to sources, Junaid, along with another individual settled abroad, was previously linked to a murder case in 2017. The individual abroad reportedly supplied them with weapons and other resources to carry out their alleged terror activities.
The alleged radicalization of prisoners in Karnataka has raised concerns among law enforcement agencies, as it highlights the potential for correctional facilities to become breeding grounds for extremist ideologies and terrorist activities.
Nazeer himself is a prominent accused in the 2008 serial blast case in Bengaluru, adding to the gravity of the situation. Another instance that has raised alarms is the case of Mohammad Shariq, the key accused in the cooker blast case in Mangaluru last year, believed to have been radicalized while in Belagavi prison by another terror accused connected to the Hyderabad bomb blast case.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are determined to unravel any terror networks and eliminate potential threats to the safety and security of the public. The recent arrests underscore the need for continuous vigilance and collaborative efforts to prevent any potential harm to the city and its residents.
The authorities are urging the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police immediately. The safety and security of the people remain a top priority, and law enforcement agencies are committed to maintaining peace and order in the region. The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating terrorism and the importance of continued efforts to protect communities from potential threats.
Sources By Agencies
