Hyderabad: 3 having links with Pakistani ISI-LeT handlers, aimed at terror attacks, arrested

Hyderabad: Three people were arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday for conspiring to hurl grenades on public gatherings. The arrested people have been identified as Abdul Zahed, Samiuddin alias Sami, and Maaz Hasan.

Abdul Zahed, a resident of Malakpet was involved in several terror related cases in Hyderabad in the past. He recently revived his contacts with his Pakistani ISI conduits again, conspired to cause terror acts including blasts and lone wolf attacks in Hyderabad City to create terror among the minds of common public.

On 2 October, Abdul Zahed along with his associates received a consignment of four hand grenades and were going to carry out sensational terror attacks in Hyderabad, Telangana. The Hyderabad police acted swiftly and apprehended three persons from Malakpet.

Abdul Zahed alias Motu aged 39 years is a resident of Moosarambagh in Malakpet, Mohd. Sameeuddin alias Abdul Sami aged 39 years is a businessman living in Akber Bagh, Saidabad, and Maaz Hasan aged 29 years is a resident of Humayun nagar, Mehdipatnam.

According to the police, Abdul Zahed previously involved in several terror related cases in Hyderabad including suicide attack on the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner's task force office Begumpet in 2005. He was in regular touch with Pakistani ISI-LeT handlers.

The three absconding accused persons- Farhatullah Ghori alias FG, Siddique Bin Osman alias Rafique alais Abu Hamzala, Abdul Majeed alias Chotu, all natives of Hyderabad city had absconded as they were wanted in several terror cases. They finally settled in Pakistan and are now working under the aegis of ISI.

The police said that in the past, they recruited local youth and radicalised them and got executed terror attacks such as the blast near Saibaba Temple Dilsukhnagar in 2002, bus blast at Ghatkopar in Mumbai, suicide attack on Task Force office, Begumpet in 2005. They had also attempted to cause blasts near Ganesh Temple, Secunderabad in 2004.

Adul Zahed in his confession has revealed that Farhatulla Ghori, Abu Hamzala and Majeed revived their contacts with him and they motivated and financed Zahed to recruit and carryout out terror attacks in Hyderabad again. At the behest of Pakistan based handlers Zahed recruited Samiuddin and Maaz Hasan.

During the search, four hand grenades were recovered from the possession of above persons which Zahed received from his Pakistan based handlers. He was planning to hurl these hand grenades targeting public gatherings through his group members, thereby causing terror and communal tension in the city.

Two hand grenades, net cash worth Rs. 3,91,800 and 2 mobile phones were seized from Zahed. One hand grenade, net cash worth Rs: 1,50,000 , one mobile phone and one bullet motor cycle were seized from Sami, and one hand grenade and two mobile phones were seized from Maaz Hasan.