'Captured ISIS suspect was planning strikes in India'

Sources say Mohd Mustaqeem arrested by Delhi police belonged to Balarampur in Uttar Pradesh and his handlers were in Afghanistan.

New Delhi: An ISIS suspect, who was arrested on Saturday by the Special Cell of Delhi police, was reporting to ISKP or Islamic State in Khorasan Province commanders in Afghanistan, according to sources.

Mohd Mustaqeem was angered by the Bhoomi Pujan for Ram Temple in Ayodhya and planned to carry out a major terrorist attack, sources said. He told the police that he was also angry with the killing of a large number of minorities in Uttar Pradesh, according to sources.

Mustaqeem, originally from Balarampur, Uttar Pradesh, was also in touch with the IS entities of Kashmir, added sources.

Police have also recovered two cooker bomb and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from him. The accused was known to be in contact with ISKP operatives sources said.

The accused is being taken to his native place for further recovery/investigation.

Earlier in the day, scores of National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were deployed near Buddha Jayanti Park in Ridge Road area to analyse the IEDs recovered from the accused.

Mustaqeem was held following a gunfight with the Delhi Police Special Cell at Dhaula Kuan.

(With inputs from ANI)