UP cops arrest terrorist with ISIS link planning attack of August 15

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police said to have arrested an alleged terrorist with Islamic State links who was planning a terror attack on Independence Day.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the police arrested Sabauddin Azmi, a member of the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM. He is a resident of the Amilo area of Azamgarh district, and also goes by the names Dilawar Khan and Bairam Khan, said a statement from Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar.

The police said Azmi was in direct contact with an ISIS recruiter. He has been detained under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act. The ATS also found materials used in making bombs, illegal weapons, and cartridges.

The security forces were acting on the information that Azmi was influenced by ISIS ideology and spreading jihadi ideas. "He was also trying to get others to join the terror outfit."

The official statement said Azmi started such activities after connecting with a person named Bilal on Facebook. They talked about the actions taken in Kashmir. Bilar provided him with the contact of an ISIS member named Musa aka Khattab Kashmiri. He further got in touch with Abu Bakr al-Shami of the ISIS living in Syria.

The cops said that Azmi was working with Abu Umar, a resident of Murtaniya who was training him to make hand grenades, bombs, and IEDs. They were working on a plan to establish Islamic State in India.

The statement added that Azmi was working on a plan to target members of the RSS on Independence Day.