Are ISIS sleeper cells increasing in India? Suspected terrorists nabbed in Hoshangabad, Kanpur, Lucknow had 'some big plans', say reports

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist squad on Tuesday launched an operation to catch a suspected terrorist holed up in a house on the outskirts of Lucknow. There are inputs that this terror suspect, identified as Saifullah, may have links with the Bhopal-Ujjain train blast that took place earlier on Tuesday.

According to a Delhi Police special cell source, the suspect is linked to the Bhopal-Ujjain train blast. The Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Police had reportedly received a tip off from South India about an ISIS module but the blast was carried out in the train even before the police could take any action.

Following the blast, the police arrested suspected ISIS terrorists from whom they received tip off about Saifullah, reports said. 

Saifullah, hiding in a house in Kakori area, may be linked to ISIS, reports have said, adding, they might have planned a bigger terror attack like Mumbai.

According to inputs from Kerala and Telangana shared by Intelligence Bureau, more terrorists are suspected to be hiding in Lucknow and surrounding districts.

Several terrorists of ISIS module have been arrested from various states in India in the past but Saifullah is first to reportedly possess weapons like AK-47, which is why it is important for the security agencies to capture him alive. Catching him alive will help the security agencies get information about the sleeper cells of ISIS.

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The owner of the house where Saifullah is hiding lives in Saudi Arabia and according to the neighbours few youths live here as tenants, said reports. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh has been put on high alert in view of the polling for 40 assembly seats in seven districts on Wednesday.

As per reports, Saifullah has been injured in the operation in which 20 commandos are involved.

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UP DGP Javeed Ahmed said the UP Police was trying to convince the person holed up in the house to surrender.

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