Haryana preacher detained in Jammu and Kashmir over Faridabad ‘white-collar’ terror module; explosives linked to Red Fort blast
Preacher Maulvi Ishtiyaq was staying in a rented accommodation within the Al Falah University complex in Faridabad | 2,500 kg of explosive substances was recovered from his residence a few days ago
PTC Web Desk: In a major breakthrough, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday detained a religious preacher from Mewat, Haryana, for his alleged involvement in a ‘white-collar’ terror module operating out of a university in Faridabad.
The preacher, identified as Maulvi Ishtiyaq, was staying in a rented accommodation within the Al Falah University complex in Faridabad. Officials said the police had earlier recovered over 2,500 kilogram of explosive substances, including ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and sulphur, from his residence.
Ishtiyaq has been brought to Srinagar for interrogation and is likely to be formally arrested soon. He will become the ninth person taken into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into the terror network.
The police, in coordination with teams from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, conducted a series of interstate raids on November 10 to uncover the sophisticated ‘white-collar’ terror network believed to have links with banned outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Investigators revealed that the explosives were allegedly stored at Ishtiyaq’s rented residence by Dr Muzammil Ganaie alias Musaib and Dr Umar Nabi, the latter being the driver of the explosives-laden car that detonated near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, killing 12 persons.
Police sources indicated that the network involved educated operatives using academic institutions as cover for extremist activities, marking a dangerous new trend in terror financing and planning.