The joint operation of Delhi police and Haridwar police continued on Friday following the arrest of Akhlaq and his three friends suspected to have links with the Islamic State (ISIS). Around noon, the police brought two of the quartet to their villages in Haridwar district to gather more evidence related to the case. They were taken to landhaura village of Roorkee area in a car when the villagers tried to gherao the police. The operation lasted for about two hours.
Notably, Delhi Police on Tuesday night had arrested the four people, with tlinks to the ISIS, in the age group of 19-23 years, who were supposed to be in touch with handlers based in Syria and Iraq. A series of raids is being conducted since Sunday under the joint operation at various places in Roorkee and Haridwar. The outfit was supposed to be in the final stage of executing multiple attacks in Delhi, NCR region and the Ardh Kumbh Mela site in Haridwar when they were arrested after a tip-off from the intelligence agency and taken on remand on Thursday.
The two cars of Delhi Police and one of Uttarakhand Police reached landhaura estate near Roorkee around 12 pm on Friday. Riding Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ( Dl9CAG8670) and Innova (Dl1CS5381), about nine policemen brought Mohammad Mehraz to his place from where `38, 000 was recovered by the police. Police said that `41, 000 had been given to Mehraz by the terrorist outfits by way of funding their subversive activities. Chowki in-charge landhaura Madan Mohan Bhatt confirmed the information.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the brother of Mehraz, Sarfaraz claimed that the case was framed. “My brother was pursuing BAMS course at Rishikul Ayurvedic College. He had no time for such things as he was occupied with his studies. He is innocent. The police took our money from home.”
Acting on the clues related to another accused Mohammad Azimussan, police went to Jaurasi village near landhaura. Crossing the fields, they went to a over-head water tank near railway tracks.
This was about three kms inside the village boundary. Mounting the water tank, the police recovered a bag containing some inflammable substances like gun powder. Also some charred wood was seized which the accused might have used to prepare ammunition. After recovering all these materials, the police reached the house of Azimussan from where they also recovered a mobile box.
The villagers, including women, came out of their houses when the police went to Azimussan’s house. Where they gheraoed the police and started sloganeering against police. The villagers alleged that the boys had been framed by the police.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the maternal uncle of another accused Mohammad Osama, Abdul Hamir said, “My nephew studied BA from Chamanlal Degree College. He wanted to be an IAS officer. He could never have been involved in subversive activities.”