A 19-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Abdul Rahman, was arrested in Faridabad, Haryana, on Monday while in possession of two hand grenades. Authorities have stated that Rahman is influenced by the Islamic State, specifically the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
Rahman was apprehended in Palwal by a joint operation of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and the local Special Task Force while he was travelling towards Ayodhya. As per media reports, there was a plan to attack the Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir through Rahman.
Sources indicated that during interrogation, Rahman admitted to having pledged allegiance to ISKP.
A senior Special Task Force officer confirmed that Rahman had taken the oath online and that he may have been self-radicalised.
The officer further stated that the hand grenades found in Rahman’s possession could be of foreign origin. Security agencies are investigating potential links between Rahman and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.
In a search of his residence in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, police recovered a pen drive and documents related to ISKP. Additionally, cash and a wooden gun were found in his room.
Officials disclosed that Rahman, who works as an auto-rickshaw driver in his village, has connections with multiple groups. He had visited Delhi twice recently and reportedly attended a religious congregation at Jamaat. His father stated that Rahman’s mobile phone was switched off the day after his visit, and they had not been in contact with him since.
Rahman travelled from Faizabad to Faridabad by train on Sunday, where he allegedly met a handler who supplied him with the two hand grenades. He was instructed to proceed to Ayodhya with the explosives but was intercepted before reaching his destination.
During questioning, Rahman informed officials that he had concealed the grenades in an abandoned house near Pali village. He later led police to the location, where the explosives were recovered.
An FIR has been registered against Rahman at Dabua Police Station in Faridabad, and further investigations are ongoing.
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