NIA Raids Residence In Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj Over Suspected Pakistani Connection
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a significant raid on Thursday, targeting a residence in the town of Farenda, situated in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district. The operation unfolded against a backdrop of suspicions regarding a potential Pakistani connection.
Sources reveal that the NIA conducted the raid at the residence of an individual identified as Dr Fazle Haq. The operation is reportedly linked to an alleged Pakistani connection involving Haq’s son-in-law, Talha Khan. The NIA team has launched an extensive investigation into the matter to unravel any potential links or implications.
A central aspect of the investigation centres around a message received on Talha Khan’s mobile phone from Pakistan. This communication has raised alarm bells and triggered an intensified examination by the investigative agency. Preliminary reports suggest that the NIA teams thoroughly questioned all family members residing at Haq’s Farenda residence regarding the matter.
NIA attaches house in UP
Separately, the NIA made another significant move on Wednesday by attaching a property in Uttar Pradesh, designating it as ‘proceeds of terrorism.’ This decision followed the revelation that the property was being utilised by an active member associated with banned terrorist organisations, Al-Qaeda and Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind, for preparing potential terror attacks.
The accused individual, Minhaj Ahmed, had procured specific raw materials and components intended for the creation of an improvised explosive device (IED) within a pressure cooker. Notably, the NIA recovered this pressure cooker IED from the attached property on Monday. Minhaj had also fabricated a sample IED using small quantities of materials and conducted a controlled explosion (testing) on the property’s roof, according to findings from NIA investigations.
The NIA’s investigation has underscored Minhaj’s close collaboration with Adil Nabi Teli, alias Musa, a terrorist affiliated with TRF, an affiliate of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Notably, Musa was killed in an encounter with security forces on March 16, 2022.
Furthermore, it has come to light that Minhaj had recorded a video detailing the IED’s fabrication, along with its controlled explosion, which he subsequently sent to Musa. He had also assembled a petrol bomb and shared a video depicting its fabrication with Musa. Additionally, Minhaj had procured a pistol and live ammunition, concealing them within a room on the first floor of the attached property.
