New Delhi (IANS): Security agencies successfully neutralized a major ISI-backed terror plot this week, arresting eight individuals across Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The operation dismantled a cell linked to Bangladesh-based terror groups and funded directly by Pakistani intelligence.
Key Suspects Identified
Authorities identified six of the eight arrested individuals as:
- Mizanur Rahman
- Mohammed Shabat
- Umar
- Mohammed Litan
- Mohammed Shahid
- Mohammed Ujjal
The group included one Bangladeshi national. Most suspects lived under false identities, using fake Aadhaar cards to secure jobs at a garment factory in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu.
High-Value Targets: Red Fort and Temples
Intelligence reports indicate the module specifically targeted high-profile landmarks and religious sites:
- The Red Fort: The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) reportedly planned an attack near this iconic monument.
- North Indian Temples: Agencies warned of a long-term plot to attack temples to incite communal tension.
- Delhi AI Summit: Four suspects previously traveled to Delhi during the AI Summit to distribute “Free Kashmir” posters before retreating to their bases.
The ISI’s “Local Module” Strategy
The investigation reveals a shift in tactics by the ISI. Because heavy security makes infiltration across the India-Pakistan border difficult, the ISI now focuses on:
- Establishing local modules to maintain “plausible deniability.”
- Recruiting moles within India to carry out reconnaissance.
- Using social media for encrypted communication and spreading pro-Pakistan propaganda.
“The ISI feels that setting up local modules within India allows them to bypass launch-pad failures and avoid direct international fingerprints on terror activities,” an official stated.
Evidence and Next Steps
During the raids, police recovered eight mobile phones and 16 SIM cards. These devices contained evidence of the group’s reconnaissance activities in various Indian cities.
The Tamil Nadu police are currently handing the suspects over to the Delhi Police for intensive interrogation. Investigators aim to uncover the full extent of their reconnaissance missions and identify any remaining sleeper cells active ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections.
