Arrested had plans of killing B'lore VIPs: DGP

Bangalore, August 30: The eleven persons including a journalist who have been arrested by the police had plans of killing VIPs in Bangalore said Lalrokhuma Pachau, DGP, Karnataka.

Adressing a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday, Mr. Pachau said that the operation was carried out by CCB branch of the Bangalore City Police. The arrested have connections with Lashkar-e-Toiba and HuJI, he said, adding that with the arrest a 'major catastrophe has been averted'.

Stating that the case is 'sensitive', Mr. Pachau said that further investigation is on.

The names of persons arrested by the police which were revealed on the occasion include Abdullah alias Abdul Hakim, Ejaz Mohammed Mirza, Mohammed Yusuf, Riyaz Amed, Muthi-ur-rehman Siddiqui, Imran Bahadur, Sadiq Lashkar, Wahid Hussan and Jafar. Some of them have been arrested from Bangalore while others have been nabbed from Hubli.

Jyoti Prakash Mirji, Bangalore Police Commissioner, said that a 7.65 mm pistol has been recovered from one of the accused, besides other suspicious materials. Primary investigation has revealed that the arrested were working as per the guidelines of LeT and HuJI 'handlers' based in Saudi Arabia. Among the VIPs who were on the target of the accused are politicians, leaders of a Hindu outfit and journalists associated with a Kannada daily, he said. Their movements were being watched by the police for the past two months and apt action has been taken before any damage being done, he said.

A case has been registered with the Basaveshwaranagara Police. Sections under 120 (B), 153(A), 307, 379, Prevention of Unlawful Activities and Arms Act have been booked against the arrested, Mr. Mirji said. He however, said that there is no past crime record of any of the arrested. He also denied that Uttar Pradesh police had any role in the entire operation.

Meanwhile R Ashok, Deputy Chief Minister and State Home Minister has said that the arrested are all from educated background. “There are doctors and scientists among the arrested. Most of them are educated. Primary investigation by the police has revealed that they had obtained training under terror groups abroad. Among the people they wanted to kill were an MP, an MLC, a Bajarang Dal Convenor and two journalists. The police have found photographs of these journalists with Narendra Modi from the laptops of the arrested. This was a well-planned conspiracy”, Mr. Ashok said.

The Home Minister also stated that it would also be investigated as to whether the arrested have a role in spreading rumours that led to North-East exodus in the state.

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