(Left) Harris Farooqui (Right) Anurag Singh alias Rehan
Guwahati: In a significant breakthrough, the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) successfully apprehended the head of ISIS in India, Harish Ajmal Farukhi, along with his associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan, in a meticulously planned operation conducted in Dhubri district. The operation, which unfolded in the early hours of March 20 2024, marks a crucial milestone in the fight against terrorism in the region.
The arrest came following intelligence received from sister agencies indicating the presence of two high-ranking ISIS operatives in a neighbouring country, poised to infiltrate Indian territory via the Dhubri sector. Acting swiftly on this information, the STF, led by IGP Partha Sarathi Mahanta, mobilised a team to track and apprehend the suspects, who were also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Under the leadership of Parthasarathi Mahanta, IPS, IGP(STF), and Kalyan Kumar Pathak, APS, Addl SP, STF, the team deployed to Dhubri commenced their mission on the evening of March 19, 2024. With credible intelligence at their disposal, a thorough manhunt ensued along the international border, culminating in the detection and subsequent apprehension of the accused individuals at the Dharmasala area of Dhubri around 4:15 am.
The identities of the apprehended suspects were confirmed as Harish Ajmal Farukhi, also known as Haris Farooqi, and Anurag Singh alias Rehan. Farukhi, hailing from Chakrata, Dehradun, was identified as the head of ISIS in India, while his associate, Anurag Singh, a convert to Islam, hailed from Diwana, Panipat, with ties to Bangladesh through his wife.
Both Farukhi and Singh are reported to be deeply indoctrinated and motivated members of ISIS, actively involved in recruitment, terror funding, and plotting terror acts across India, including the deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Numerous cases against them are pending with the NIA, Delhi, and ATS, Lucknow, underscoring the gravity of their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
STF, Assam, has confirmed their intention to hand over the accused to the NIA for further legal proceedings. The apprehension of these individuals has dealt a significant blow to the operations of ISIS in India, particularly as Farukhi, reportedly based in Nepal and Bangladesh, was allegedly orchestrating sabotage activities targeting India.
Both Farukhi and Singh are currently undergoing interrogation in Guwahati, as authorities continue their efforts to dismantle terror networks operating within the country. The successful operation stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of law enforcement agencies in safeguarding national security and combating terrorism.
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