The Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested three persons including a foreign national for allegedly planning to kill “important persons in south India”, the officers said on Saturday.
The accused were allegedly working on the instructions of India-based operatives of the underworld, the police said.
One foreign national
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said the accused have been identified as Wali Mohammed Saifi (45), from Afghanistan, Sheikh Riyazuddin alias Raja (32), from Orissa, and Muhthasin CM alias Thaslim (41), from Kerala.
While Saifi and Riyazuddin were arrested from Delhi on January 11, Thaslim was arrested from his Kasaragod with the assistance of local police.
On January 9, the police received information “through a reliable source” that underworld operatives are planning to kill important persons in South India.
In the First Information Report (FIR) registered on January 10, the police stated they were informed that “ISI Agency of Pakistan has assigned one Ghulfam Rasool Patty, a Pakistan-based underworld element for killing close relatives of VVIPs in Delhi and other parts of the country,” the FIR reads.
“It is further learnt through the source that one Idrish Khan, brother of Ghulfam Rasool, has been further tasked to coordinate actions on the ground,” the FIR further read.
It also stated that the underworld operatives along with their Pakistan-based handlers have also procured weapons.
“On the basis of input and technical analysis, it is transpired that a deep-rooted conspiracy has been hatched by ISI with its operatives in India to eliminate close relatives of VVIPs to infuse a terror in mind of people and to create instability in the country,” the document read.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that Thaslim and Saifi knew each other since their days in Dubai as both of them were businessmen in the city. They were told that it was Thaslim who had roped in Saifi who further involved Riyazuddin in the alleged plan.
Police claimed that Saifi who is married and has three children deals in sale and purchase of old cars.
He got in touch with Thaslim in 2016 in Dubai and has come to India a few times on medical and tourist visa.
“This time he came to India in December, 2018, on a tourist Visa. He came in contact with Riyajuddin through one Abdulla, an Afghan, who was lodged in Tihar Jail in a murder case and was released on bail in 2017,” Mr. Kushwah said adding that the other two are married too and Riyazudin works as a welder.
Police claimed that Thaslim went to Dubai inn 1999 and started a liquor business there. “He is previously involved in eight criminal cases including that of rioting, assault and obtaining Passport on forged documents,” the officer said.
Police claimed to have recovered two pistols, six live cartridges and mobile phones from their possession.
