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Lucknow encouter shows ISIS's plans to expand its footprints in India

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) Gunned Down IS Terrorist Saifullah In 12–hour Encounter In The Early Morning Hours Of Wednesday.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Gautam Lalotra | Updated on: 08 Mar 2017, 12:30:59 PM
Islamic State - File Photo (Getty)

New Delhi:

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) gunned down IS terrorist Saifullah in 12–hour encounter in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

As per the last reports coming in, out of 13 ISIS terrorists, six are still on the run. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams rushed to Bhopal and Lucknow to dots the link of ISIS terror module. The teams would also probe Bhopal-Ujjain train blast in the backdrop of Lucknow terror operations. It will interrogate the nabbed terrorists from Pipariya.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist squad on Tuesday launched an extensive operation to nab the 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 has been strongly linked to carrying out 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, is alleged to have strong links with the ISIS, reports have said, adding, they might have planned a bigger terror attack like Mumbai.

Video | Blast in 59320 Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train in MP, 9 hurt | See pics inside

Dreaded terror group Islamic State appears to have perceptible footprints in Afghanistan-Pakistan region, a UN report has said.

The report said that ISIS continues to recruit from the troubled Afghanistan-Pakistan border region even as the terror outfit is struggling to hold onto their positions across West Asia.

The 19th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team about the terror group was submitted to the Security Council Sanctions Committee this week. 

ALSO READ | MP top cop confirms Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train explosion as terrorist attack

The report noted that a UN Member State reported that ISIS had around 2,000 to 3,500 fighters overall in Afghanistan but that number had not fallen significantly despite heavy losses sustained in 2016.

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.

ALSO READ | Suspected ISIS terrorist hurt in encounter with ATS in Lucknow; chilli bomb used but suspect refuses to surrender

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First Published : 08 Mar 2017, 12:14:00 PM

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