'Al-Qaeda Linked Terrorists Planned Serial Attacks In Lucknow Before August 15': UP ADG

Prashant Kumar on Sunday briefed media on Lucknow ATS' operation in Kakori where two Al-Qaeda terrorists were arrested who were planning an attack before August 15.

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Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar on Sunday briefed media on ATS' operation in the Kakori area of Lucknow where two Al-Qaeda terrorists were arrested on Sunday.

Speaking to the media, the official said, " UP ATS has uncovered a big terror module. The team has arrested two terrorists linked with al-Qaeda's Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Cache of arms, explosive materials recovered." 

The names of the terrorists are being said as Minaz and Massiruddin. The two had planned a serial blast around 15 August in Lucknow using human bombs. Minaz was arrested from Kakori. The officials have seized IED, pistol, and cooker bomb from the suspects. 

ADG said that the two terrorists had planned a terror module and it was the same operation that was announced by the then Al-Qaeda chief Al-Zawahiri on September 3, 2014, and was headed by Maulana Aseem Umar, who was from Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. Prashant Kumar told that Umar died on 23 September 2019 in the US and Afghan operation.  

"Since his death, the Uttar Pradesh module of al-Qaeda was being run by a man named Umar Halmundi. These activities were being conducted from the Peshawar-Quetta area in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area," he said.

The ADG further revealed that  Umar Halmundi used to identify and appoint jihadi people in Lucknow to carry out the operation.

Conspiracy to launch an attack before Aug 15 has been foiled: UP ADG

Prashant Kumar said that they had prepared this module to launch attacks and other terrorist activities ahead of India's Independence Day, August 15. The gangs' key members were Minhaj, Massiruddin, and Shakeel and they were working on the instructions of Umar Halmundi. Kumar further said that they had conspired to plant explosives at monuments and crowded areas of Uttar Pradesh, especially Lucknow. Some were also assigned with human bombs to carry out huge explosions. Weapons and explosives related to their conspiracy were also recovered.

The ADG said that other associates of this gang are from Lucknow and Kanpur.

Prashant Kumar said that ATS got information that these people can carry out explosions anytime in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Lucknow. After getting the inputs, the ATS team launched an operation and raided the Kakori area of Lucknow. The police have recovered a huge quantity of explosives and a pistol. The ammunition was recovered from the house of the accused Minhaj. The IED recovered from the house has been deactivated. 

Earlier today, ATS IG G K Goswami spoke to ABP News and revealed that they have arrested two terrorists of Al Qaeda. He also said that the handlers of these terrorists are from Pakistan. 

After interrogation with the two terrorists, they revealed that their handler was Moosa who has already been eliminated by the Kashmir Police. 

It is pertinent to note that Kakori is a densely populated area in Lucknow and BJP Leader Kaushal Kishore lives nearby. Also, such an event has instilled fear among the locals.