New Delhi: In a big development in 2022 Hyderabad terror attack conspiracy case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) today named three arrested persons and revealed that the prime accused was working on directions of Pakistan-based handlers belonging to LeT & ISI.

NIA confirmed that it conducted multiple searches in Motihari and managed to arrest two accused

The NIA said it has arrested three arrested persons– Mohd Zahed, Maaz Hasan Farooq, and Samiuddin– under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for conspiring terror attacks in Hyderabad last October. NIA filed the FIR against these 3 accused and others on January 25 this year.

The probe agency said that the key person Zahed is accused in several terror-related cases in Hyderabad had recruited several youth, including Maaz and Samiuddin, on the directions of Pakistan-based handlers. On the instructions of those handlers, Zahed conspired with his gang members to carry out terror activities including blasts and lone wolf attacks in Hyderabad City to create terror in the minds of the common public, NIA said.

Zahed had received hand grenades from Pakistan-based handlers and was planning to hurl them at public gatherings and processions in order to create communal tension.

The FIR states that terrorist Zahed has planned to hurl grenades at BJP/RSS meetings/processions or on Hindu Festive Gatherings in view of Dussehra. Zahed also received funds from terrorist organisations to carry out terror activities.

Zahed received Grenades consignment from Pakistan, the FIR said. He has recruited several youth by name Maaz, Samiuddin, Adil Afroz, Abdul Hai, Sohail Qureshi, Abdul Kaleem and others. Till now police have arrested three accused Zahed, Samiuddin and Maaz Farooq.

“On 02.10.2022, specific information received that Abdul Zahed r/o Malakpet along with his associates received a consignment of four hand grenades and going to carry out sensational terror attacks in Hyderabad, Telangana. The team acted swiftly and apprehended three persons from Malakpet today,” NIA said in a press release.

During search, four hand grenades were recovered from the possession of above persons which Zahed has 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. More than five lakhs in cash was also seized.

Meanwhile, the NIA on Sunday arrested two suspected members of the proscribed Popular Front of India (PFI) from Bihar’s Motihari for their alleged involvement in the Phulwari Sharif case.
The two individuals have been accused of arranging weapons and ammunition to carry out targeted killing.

In an official statement, the NIA confirmed that it conducted multiple searches in Motihari and managed to arrest two accused – Tanveer Raza and Mohammad Abid.

According to police reports, the two persons were apprehended by a joint team of NIA Patna and Ranchi along with Motihari police from the Chakia Police Station in Motihari in Bihar’s East Champaran district.

The case pertains to the involvement of the accused and suspected persons, associated with the PFI in unlawful and anti-national activities, who had assembled in Phulwari Sharif area of Patna. The case was initially registered on July 12 last year at Phulwari Sharif police station in Patna and re-registered by the NIA on July 22 last year.