The Special Cell of Delhi Police, in coordination with the Thane Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a 24-year-old resident of Kurla from the Bhayander area in connection with an alleged terror module linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI.
According to officials, the accused, Huzaifa Ansari, came under the radar of investigators after he was allegedly found to be in contact with Pakistan-based handler Shahzad Bhatti through social media platforms.
Last week, Delhi Police arrested eight individuals, including Sajid Shaikh alias Arbaz Khan from Kurla in Mumbai and Tauqeer Shaikh from Mumbra in Thane. Investigators claim that Shahzad Bhatti has been using social media to radicalise Indian youth and recruit them for terror-related activities.
During interrogation, officials allegedly discovered that Ansari was acquainted with both Sajid Shaikh and Tauqeer Shaikh and had encouraged them to join the network in exchange for money. He is also accused of helping them connect with Pakistani handlers through social media and facilitating the use of their bank accounts.
According to the investigation, Tauqeer Shaikh allegedly received Rs 21,000 in his bank account, while Arbaz Khan received Rs 25,000 after being introduced to the handlers through Ansari.
Investigators said that Huzaifa Ansari lived with his parents and sister in the Nehru Nagar area of Kurla. Both Ansari and his father worked as mechanics at a garage in Kurla East. According to police, he fled his home after Delhi Police arrested Tauqeer Shaikh and Sajid Shaikh, alias Arbaz Khan, last week.
Police teams continued their search and eventually received information that Ansari was hiding in the Mira Road area. Acting on the tip-off, a joint team of the Thane Anti-Terrorism Squad and Delhi Police Special Cell laid a trap and arrested him from Bhayander on Tuesday night.
Following his arrest, Ansari was taken to the Thane ATS office for questioning and later produced before a court in Thane. The court granted a three-day transit remand, a police officer said.
As per the court’s directions, Ansari will be produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi on June 5. During the remand proceedings, investigators reportedly submitted screenshots of WhatsApp conversations as part of the evidence.
Police said that Tauqeer Shaikh works as a crane operator and lives with his parents in the Mumbra area of Thane. Meanwhile, Sajid Shaikh alias Arbaz Khan had been staying with his maternal uncle in Kurla East. According to investigators, he was allegedly struggling with drug addiction and had been asked to leave his uncle’s house around four months ago.
According to police, Ansari was the key accused who allegedly influenced Tauqeer Shaikh and Sajid Shaikh, alias Arbaz Khan, to become part of the module. Investigators claim that after being recruited, the two allegedly accepted money through online transactions in connection with the activities of the network.
Police further said that Tauqeer Shaikh’s family had lived in Kurla East several years ago before relocating to Mumbra. Ansari, Tauqeer and Sajid were reportedly known to each other for many years and remained in regular contact, often meeting in person, investigators said.
