Tehreek-E-Labbaik Planned To Kill Nupur Sharma, Pak 'Terrorist' Came To India As Per Plan: Police

A Pakistani national crossed over to India via International Border to allegedly kill suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. He was held in the Sri Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan. 

Nupur Sharma's remarks during a TV debate on the Gyanvapi mosque case garnered widespread condemnation. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Rajasthan Police has said that the Pakistani national who crossed over to India via International Border to allegedly kill suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was influenced by Pakistan-based organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik. "Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a Pakistani organisation has made plans to kill Nupur Sharma. Rizwan, who is a Pakistani terrorist, was also influenced by Tehreek-e-Labbaik. As per their plan, he wanted to enter India from across the border," said S Sengathir, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), Rajasthan. 

"Many agencies including Intelligence Bureau, CID, Border Security Force, Indian Army, and local police are now interrogating Rizwan. This is the same organisation that worked to surround the Imran Khan government in Pakistan last year and killed many people in Pakistan," the official added, as quoted by news agency ANI. 

A Pakistani national crossed over to India via International Border to allegedly kill suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. He was held in the Sri Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan. 

A joint team of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other intelligence agencies are interrogating the arrested Pakistani national. 

According to a senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer, the man was held on July 16 at around 11 pm from near the Hindumalkot border outpost. He was found in suspicious condition by patrolling team, following which, he was immediately detained and frisked. 

"We have found an 11-inch long knife, religious books, clothes, food, and sand in the bag from his possession. He identified himself as Rizwan Ashraf, a native of Mandi Bahauddin city located in Northern Punjab of Pakistan," the BSF officer said, as quoted by ANI.

He informed that during the preliminary probe, Rizwan divulged he crossed the border to kill Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad. He had planned to visit Ajmer Dargah first before executing his plan. 

"We have handed him over to local police for further investigation. He was produced before a magistrate from where he was sent to eight days of police custody. We have informed the concerned intelligence agencies about him," the officer added. 

A joint team of IB, RAW, and Military Intelligence is interrogating the Pakistan national. 

The incident comes against the backdrop of now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks on Prophet Muhammad that had led to violent protests in the country and also drew criticism from other nations.

(With Agency Inputs)