Police foil Jaish terror plot, three arrested

New Delhi, May 4 Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist cell with the arrest of three suspects who were planning an attack in Delhi and neighbouring areas. Nine suspects, with alleged links to the Pakistan-based group, were being questioned.

Police officials said the terror module was active and plotting to target "sensitive and crowded" areas in the national capital region. 

Police said the module, which was being closely watched by security and intelligence officials for some time, was busted after separate raids in parts of Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. An IED has been recovered from them.

"Three have been arrested and they will be brought to a Delhi court (on Wednesday afternoon)," a police official told IANS, adding nine more were detained and were being questioned for possible links to the JeM and for providing logistical support to the terror cell.

Among those arrested is Sajid, identified by his first name only, who is in his early 20s. He was said to be one of the most wanted terrorists one of whose hands got burnt while preparing a bomb sometime ago. Sajid was arrested from Gokulpuri in east Delhi.

"He is the main accused and was perhaps heading the module," the official added.

The other two arrested were Shakir and Sameer, also known by their first names. They too were said to be directly linked to Jaish, which was blamed for the January 2 attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

Police said search operations were on at different places in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Arvind Deep, the Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), told IANS that most suspects were below 30. "Some of them are permanent residents of Delhi and some are from Uttar Pradesh."