Delhi, UP on Alert as Suspected ISIS Operative Arrested With IED

The man has been identified as Abdul Yusuf Khan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

A suspected ISIS operative was arrested by Delhi Police’s special cell after an exchanged of fire on Friday, 21 August, night. 

(Photo: AP)

A suspected ISIS operative who was arrested by Delhi Police’s special cell after an exchange of fire on the night of Friday, 21 August, has been sent to an eight-day police remand, reported news agency ANI.

“One ISIS operative arrested with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by our Special Cell after an exchange of fire at Dhaula Kuan,” Pramod Singh Kushwaha, Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Delhi Police Special Cell told ANI.

The Delhi Police also told ANI that 30 bore pistols and 4 live cartridges were recovered from the accused while adding that he will be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosives Act, among others.

Incriminating materials including a brown colour jacket containing three explosive packets and a blue colour check jacket containing four explosive packets were also recovered, PramodKushwaha, Delhi Dy Commissioner of Police told ANI. A leather belt containing approximately 3 kg explosive was also recovered.

Speaking to the media, DCP Special Cell said that the accused was earlier handled by Yusuf Alhindi who was killed in Syria after which, Abu Huzafa, a Pakistani was handling him. Huzafa was also killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

“Special Cell has arrested an ISIS operative after brief exchange of fire late night. The 36-year-old man is called Yusuf aka Abu Yusuf. He has various alias. Pressure cooker IEDs recovered from him. He was going to install them at heavy footfall area.”

DCP Special Cell to ANI.

The man is a native of UP’s Balrampur, ANI reported. The report said that the police has also recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the man’s possession.

This arrest comes days after a doctor, Abdur Rahman, was arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly having links with terror group ISIS.

“Arrested ISIS operative was being handled by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) commanders from Afghanistan and was planning terror acts in India,” ANI reported quoting sources.

Following the arrest, high alert has been issued in the Delhi-NCR region. In visuals shared by ANI, the National Security Guard commandos were seen carrying out a search operation near Buddha Jayanti Park in Ridge Road area.

According to a report by NDTV, Abdur Rahman, the doctor in Bengaluru, worked as an ophthalmologist at a medical colle in the city and was arrested by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) based on intelligence from a couple arrested in Delhi in March.