Lucknow Siege Ends, Alleged ISIS Khorasan Terror Suspect Dead
Earlier, it was believed that there were two terror suspects holed up inside a building in Thakurganj area.
- Suspect allegedly had links with the ISIS Khorasan module
- Only one terror suspect was inside the building, ADG Law and Order said
- Dead body recovered after the encounter ended in the early hours of Tuesday in Thakurganj area
- Reports suggested a link between the encounter and the train explosion that took place earlier in the day in Madhya Pradesh
- This comes a day before Uttar Pradesh will hold its final phase of elections on Wednesday
Arms and Ammunition Recovered From SIte
Pistols, revolvers, ammunition and knives were recovered among other things from the house in Thakurganj where the alleged ISIS Khorasan module terrorist was holed up.
The room also had two schedules pasted on the wall which listed the activities to be undertaken during the day.
There Was Only One Terrorist Holed up Inside: ADG Law and Order
“The Lucknow terror operation has ended and a dead body of the suspect has been recovered,” ADG Law and Order Daljit Chaudhary said.
“In the initial hours of the operation, it was felt that there were two suspected terrorists. However, when we opened the house, we found only one dead body”, he further added.
Suspected Terrorists Allegedly Belong to the ISIS Khorasan Module: Police
In an official statement, the UP Police said three persons were arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police in Piparia. Two of the arrested persons are from Kanpur, while one is from Aligarh.
“As per the information received from the Madhya Pradesh Police, one of the terrorists holed up in a house on the outskirts of Lucknow (on Lucknow-Hardoi Road under Kakori police station) has been identified as Mohammed Saifullah alias Ali, a resident of Kanpur,” the statement said.
Two of the suspected terrorists arrested by the UP Police from Kanpur are Mohammed Faisal Khan and Mohammed Imran alias Bhaai Jaan. Both are residents of Kanpur. The suspected terrorist who has been arrested from Etawah is Fakr-e-Alam alias Rishu.
Police has also recovered a laptop, mobile phones, videos and literature related to ISIS from the accused arrested in Kanpur.
“The suspected terrorists are said to be the members of Kanpur-Lucknow ISIS Khorasan module,” UP Police said.
Encounter Underway Between ATS and the Two Suspects
An encounter is currently underway between the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad and two suspected terrorists in Lucknow’s Thakurganj.
Chilli bombs and tear gas also being used by security forces.
Two Terror Suspects, Not One, Holed up in Lucknow
ADG (Law and Order) confirmed that there were two terror suspects holed up in the building in Lucknow as opposed earlier reports of one person.
Operations are still on as the police is still trying to arrest the suspects, he added.
Intemittent firing has been going on from both sides.
Rajnath Singh Speaks to DGP UP Javeed Ahmed
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to DGP UP Javeed Ahmed to take stock of the ongoing operation in Lucknow. The operation has been on since five hours now.
There has been no firing from either side and the police has been trying to enter the building to get him out.
Similar Operations Expected in Other Parts of the State: Daljit Chaudhary
Daljit Chaudhary, ADG (Law and Order) addressed the media and said that the police will also be launching search operations in other parts of the state as well.
People involved in the MP blast might be hiding in other parts of the state, he added. Senior officers in different parts of the country are working together to chalk-out a plan to catch other terrorists.
Time is on Our Side: Aseem Arun, IG, ATS
Asim Arun, IG, ATS said that the police acted upon a tip-off. The operation is still on but the suspected terrorist does not have any hostages so the police have time to arrest him, he added.
The police and ATS are trying to draw him out by using chilli bombs, he said. A total of 20 rounds have been fired and an ambulance has been called in.
Link Between Madhya Pradesh Train Explosion and Lucknow Encounter?
Some media reports suggest the possibility of a link between the encounter and the train explosion that took place earlier in the day near Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh. While there were no casualties in the blast, at least nine people were injured.
The explosion was confirmed as a terrorist attack by Madhya Pradesh IG (Law and Order) Makrand Devaskar. Three people were arrested for the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast from Pipariya.
We Will Be Able to Arrest Him Soon: ADG
Daljit Chaudhary, Additional Director General of Police, while refraining from divulging too many details, said that right now there is confirmation of only one suspected terrorist. He is also believed to be a resident of Lucknow.
Reportedly there are 20 ATS commandos at the location of the encounter.
The suspect was also given the option to surrender to which he reportedly replied that he wishes to achieve martyrdom (“Shahadat”).
The ADG said police had got a tip-off on four suspects. Of these, one was arrested in Kanpur, two in Etawa while the other is in Thakurganj.
The tip-off about the suspects, who are believed to have links with ISIS, came from Telangana, according to CNN-News18.
Suspect Allegedly Called Saiful
The suspect is allegedly called Saiful, while his associate who was arrested in Kanpur is called Faizan.
More Than One Suspected Terrorist?
Javed Ahmad, Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh told The Quint that there could be more than one alleged terrorist holed up in the area.
“At least one suspected terrorist is holed up in Haji Colony area. We have cordoned off the area and the encounter is on. The operation has been going on for 40-45 minutes,” Ahmad said.
Encounter Between ATS and Suspected Terrorist Underway
Less than 24 hours before the final phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh, shots were fired by a suspected terrorist in Thakurganj area of Lucknow on Tuesday. The state’s anti-terrorist squad (ATS) had reportedly received information of a terrorist hiding in Haji Colony area under Thakurganj police station. When the ATS went to apprehend the suspected terrorist, he opened fire.
The encounter has been underway for over 30 minutes.
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