Saifullah was 'self-radicalised', no evidence of ISIS link, say UP Police

Additional Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Police (ADG UP) Daljeet Chaudhary on Wednesday said the youth was self-radicalised and was influenced by 'literature'. Photo: ABP News

LUCKNOW: After successfully gunning down suspected terrorist Saifullah in Lucknow encounter, Additional Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Police Daljeet Chaudhary on Wednesday said the youth was self-radicalised and was influenced by 'literature'.   "These days, people self-radicalise themselves. They read their literature and come under its influence. Also, they follow social media for the same," Chaudhary told the media here. The police recovered eight pistols, three passports, more than 600 cartridges, bomb-making instruments, timers, wires, compass etc. "45 grams gold and foreign currency was also recovered," he said. "The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) accompanied by civil police completed the operation. When we reached the spot, the self-proclaimed, self-radicalised ISIS youth locked up himself inside the building and started talking about martyrdom," he said. "We tried to convince him to come out but he kept firing at us. Tear-gas shells were thrown at him. He died in an exchange of fire between him and the police," he further said. The ADG also informed that the four youth, who were living in the building, were the ones responsible for the IED blast that took place yesterday in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train. "4 were living there. They only did the IED blast in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train," he said "The police have arrested the three terrorists named mastermind Atif Muzaffar and Md. Danish - both residents of Kanpur - and Syed Meer Hussain," he added. The cops have also claimed that the accused were a part of ISIS Khorasan module, a terror outfit associated with Al Qaeda. However, Chaudhary denied having any evidence of ISIS link with the incident. A traitor can't be my son: Saifullah's father "A traitor cannot be my son, straight and simple," said Sartaj, the father of suspected ISIS terrorist Saifullah who was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police. Sartaj refused to take the body of his slain son, saying, "A traitor cannot be related to me, let alone be my son." Saifullah was killed in Lucknow this morning in an exchange of fire with the police after a 12-hour stand-off. He was suspected to be linked with the blast in the Bhopal-Ujjain train yesterday, police said. Speaking to reporters, Sartaj emphasised, "We are Indian citizens. I was born here, my ancestors were born here." He said he had heard this morning about the death of his son in the encounter. Sartaj said Saifullah had left home about two-and-a-half months back after he beat him up for not finding work and not listening to him. "On Monday, I got a call from Saifullah, who told me that he had got a visa to visit Saudi (Arabia) and he was preparing to go there. I told him go ahead," the father said.