Delhi Police Arrest LeT-Linked Terrorist Near Border

Terror Module Uncovered After Months

New Delhi: The Delhi Police special cell has arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba linked terrorist from the Delhi border on Monday. Officials identified the accused as Shabbir Ahmad Lone, a former detainee with a terror record dating back to 2007. Security agencies claim he was actively building a recruitment module across multiple Indian states.

Past Criminal Record Surfaces

According to police sources, Lone was first arrested by Delhi Police in 2007 on similar terrorism charges. He secured bail in 2019 and immediately fled to Bangladesh. From there, intelligence agencies say he continued coordinating anti-India activities under ISI directives. His network allegedly spanned Delhi, Kolkata, and Tamil Nadu.

Anti-National Posters Led to Breakthrough

The entire module came under scrutiny following an incident on February 7. Unknown persons put up anti-national 'Free Kashmir' posters near Kashmere Gate Bus Stand and Metro Station. CISF personnel spotted the posters and alerted Metro Police immediately. A formal case was registered as investigations began tracking the accused.

Trail Moves From Delhi to Kolkata

Metro Police traced two suspects who had fled to Kolkata after putting up the posters. On February 13, the case transferred to the Special Cell for deeper investigation. A team reached Kolkata and arrested Umar Farooq and Rabi-ul-Islam with local police assistance. During interrogation, both confessed to receiving instructions from Shabbir Ahmad Lone based in Bangladesh.

Multi-State Raids Intensify

Following these revelations, security agencies conducted coordinated raids across Kolkata and Tamil Nadu for nine days. A total of eight terrorists, including one Bangladeshi national, were arrested during this operation. Officials recovered 12 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards from their possession. According to Delhi Police, six suspects held from Tamil Nadu were conducting city reconnaissance to facilitate terror activities.

Kashmir Searches Yield More Evidence

On March 26, Counter Intelligence Kashmir conducted extensive raids at ten locations across Ganderbal, Shopian, and Srinagar districts. The searches continued for approximately ten hours with multiple security agencies participating. CIK officials confirmed the case links to a transactional network operating under LeT handlers. These handlers are reportedly based in Bangladesh and Pakistan, with agencies monitoring Lone for two months.

What Next for Investigation

All arrested suspects have been brought to Delhi by train for further questioning. Security sources indicate more arrests cannot be ruled out as the network map expands. Agencies are now scrutinising cross-border communication channels and financial transactions. The investigation remains active across multiple states with central agencies providing support.