'ISIS operative' Khan left his Balrampur village for Lucknow two days ago: UP Police

21:05 August 22

'ISIS operative' Khan left his Balrampur village for Lucknow two days ago: UP Police

Alleged ISIS operative Mustakeem Khan alias Abu Yusuf, arrested in Delhi before he could carry out a lone wolf terror strike in the capital, had left his village for Lucknow two days ago on the pretext of getting one of his relatives treated there, a UP police official said here on Saturday.

Soon after coming to know of Khan's arrest in Delhi on Friday night, an Anti-Terrorist Squad team of Uttar Pradesh police swooped on his village Badhya Bhaksai in Balrampur district on Saturday to make enquiries about his criminal antecedent, the official said.

Following an early morning swoop, the UP police team cordoned off the village, restricting entry of outsiders to the village. The police team asked about Khan's antecedent from several of his relatives and neighbours, the official said.
Khan's relatives in the village feigned ignorance on how he reached Delhi despite saying he was going to Lucknow, he added. Nearly eight years ago, he had left the village to work in Mumbai but he came back after he got injured there in an accident, the official said. Around four years ago, he had opened a cosmetic shop here which he ran briefly, the official said.

A major terror strike was averted with the arrest of Khan from central Delhi's Ridge Road area after a brief exchange of fire, Delhi Police officials said on Saturday.

19:43 August 22

Going to Lucknow for treatment, said suspected ISIS operative to family members

Muzibullah, whose shop has been used by Abu Yusuf, the suspected ISIS operative arrested in Delhi said Yusuf is known as 'Mustkeem' in his village.

"He runs a cosmetics shop at a facility owned by my brother & was seen at the shop on Thursday. He seemed to be a normal person. I came to know through one of his relatives that he went to Lucknow on Thursday for medicines and told their relatives there that he would be staying at their house in the night. When he didn't turn up, they tried to reach him but to no avail. Finally, they lodged an FIR in Lucknow", added Muzibullah.

19:42 August 22

No links of ISIS operative Abu Yusuf with Uttarakhand can be established so far: Uttarakhand Director General of Police (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar

17:14 August 22

UP Police reaches Balrampur village

Security has been beefed up at Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur, the native of Abu Yusuf, the suspected ISIS operative arrested with two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) after an exchange of fire with policemen in central Delhi's Ridge Road area.

He told police that he tested the explosive device at his village a few months ago.

According to the report, the village has been cordoned off by the security forces.

When ETV Bharat team tried to enter the village, the security personnel deployed at the entrance said that media personnel have been prohibited from entering the village.

16:46 August 22

ISIS operative trained by Pak handler, learnt to make IEDs online

A Delhi court remanded a suspected ISIS operative to eight-day custody of the Delhi Police's Special Cell.

The Delhi Police had arrested him late on Friday night after an exchange of fire. 

Yusuf was presented before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat at his residence, who then allowed the police to question him for eight days.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha said that he was guided and trained by a Pakistani handler Abu Huzaifa on social media.

Huzaifa had even trained the ISIS operative in making IEDs online. Huzaifa was later killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan last year.

Abu Yusuf Khan was guided and trained by ISIS handlers through social media for the last 4 to 5 years and was planning a lone wolf attack in a heavy footfall area.

16:36 August 22

ISIS operative held in Delhi had planned terror strikes: police

New Delhi: A suspected ISIS operative, arrested following a brief exchange of fire, had planned terror strikes in high footfall areas of the national capital, Delhi Police officials said on Saturday.

Two pressure cooker IEDs were recovered from Mohammad Mustakeem Khan, alias Abu Yusuf, a resident of Balarampur in Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell on Friday night from the section of the Ridge Road between Dhaula Kuan and Karol Bagh.

Khan had planned a terror strike in the national capital on August 15, but could not do so due to heavy security arrangements, said P S Kushwah, DCP (Special Cell). 

16:33 August 22

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) recovered from the arrested ISIS operative were defused by NSG's Bomb Squad, at Ridge Road's Buddha Jayanti Park, earlier today.

15:32 August 22

Accused was in direct touch with ISIS commanders: Delhi Special Cell

"The two pressure-cookers IEDs recovered from the ISIS operative neutralised by NSG bomb squad. He was also in communication with Islamic State in Khorasan Province operatives. He has said that he tested the explosive device at his village a few months ago. He was in direct touch with ISIS commanders. He had passports made of his wife, 4 children. Earlier, was handled by Yusuf Alhindi who was killed in Syria. Later, Abu Huzafa, a Pakistani was handling him. Huzafa was later killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan", DCP Special Cell, Delhi, Pramod Singh Kushwaha.

14:55 August 22

ISIS operative arrested from Delhi has connection with Uttar Pradesh: UP ADG

The ISIS operative arrested from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi has a connection with Uttar Pradesh. The possibility of his other associates being active cannot be denied. Security agencies in the State are on alert: Prashant Kumar, UP ADG Law & Order.

13:53 August 22

Security checks intensified in Ayodhya after ISIS operative held in Delhi

The security checks have been intensified in Ayodhya of Uttar Pradesh' in the wake of an alleged ISIS operative being arrested in the national capital with explosives.

Meanwhile, security checks have been also intensified along the Delhi border in Uttar Pradesh's Noida in the wake of an alleged ISIS operative being arrested in the national capital with explosives, police said on Saturday. 

Vehicles and passengers moving to and fro Delhi are being checked at the border, while Gautam Buddh Nagar district is also on alert mode, Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh S said.
Senior police officers also assessed security checks in the district bordering Delhi.

12:35 August 22

ISIS operative was in contact with ISKP operatives on cyberspace: Sources

"The arrested ISIS operative was also in communication with Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) operatives on cyberspace," sources said. 

12:33 August 22

Arrested ISIS operative was allegedly planning terror attacks in India: Sources

"Arrested ISIS operative was being handled by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) commanders from Afghanistan and was planning terror acts in India. He was also in touch with IS entities of Kashmir. He is being taken to his native place, Balarampur in UP, for probe," sources said.

12:22 August 22

ISIS operative claims multiple identities and addresses: Delhi Police

The arrested man is a high-level ISIS operative in the early thirties. 

30 bore pistol, 4 live cartridges has been recovered from the possession of the accused. 

"He is claiming multiple identities and addresses. He will be booked under Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act & Explosives Act, among others," Delhi Police said. 

12:03 August 22

The Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) recovered from the arrested ISIS operative was defused by security forces at Ridge Road's Buddha Jayanti Park.

11:00 August 22

"The IEDs were found in a pressure cooker. The weight is yet not clear, it will be confirmed after the investigation," Delhi Police said.

"National Security Guard (NSG) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) will analyse the contents of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) recovered today from the ISIS operative," further said.

10:37 August 22

"On DGP's instructions, all SSPs & security agencies of Uttar Pradesh instructed to remain on high alert after a person was arrested with IEDs from Delhi today by Delhi Police Special Cell," said Prashant Kumar, ADG-Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh.

10:12 August 22

The ISIS operative identified as Adbul Yusuf has been brought to Special Cell Office in Lodhi Colony.

10:08 August 22

National Security Guard (NSG) commandos carry out search operation near Buddha Jayanti Park in Ridge Road area. 
 

The diffusion of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) is underway near Buddha Jayanti Park.

09:40 August 22

The security forces diffuse IED near Buddha Jayanti Park in Ridge Road area, from where one ISIS operative was arrested with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by Delhi Police Special Cell earlier today, after an exchange of fire.

National Security Guard (NSG) commandos have been deployed near Buddha Jayanti Park in Ridge Road area.

08:32 August 22

Armed ISIS operative arrested in Delhi after brief encounter

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has arrested an alleged ISIS operative with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from central Delhi's Ridge Road area, a senior officer said on Saturday.

The accused was arrested on Friday night following exchange of around eight rounds of fire.

"The accused was arrested after an exchange of fire from Ridge Road between Dhaula Kuan and Karol Bagh," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha said.

Acting on a tip-off, the special cell laid a trap to arrest ISIS operative at Dahula Kaun.  

The police warned the ISIS operative and asked him to surrender. However, the later refused to surrender and opened firing after which police team fired back in self-defence and managed to arrest the accused.