The National Investigation Agency has submitted an FIR revealing that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and outlawed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had facilitated hand grenades to their sympathisers to carry out a “lone wolf” attack in Hyderabad.
The FIR lodged against three residents of Hyderabad also hinted that the accused persons booked by the Central agency were instructed to hurl hand grenades at public gatherings and processions in order to create communal tension.
The handlers based in Pakistan had instructed one Abdul Zahed alias Zahed alias Mohammad to carry out the attack. Mohammad was also accused in several terror-related cases in Hyderabad, the FIR mentioned. In addition to this he had recruited several youths namely Maaz, Samiuddin and others on the directions the ISI and LeT.
Besides Zahed, the NIA also booked Maaz Hasan Farooq and Samiuddin for conspiring terror attacks in Hyderabad in October 2022, who have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
As per the FIR, Zahed on the instructions of his Pakistani handlers, conspired with his gang members to carry out terror acts including blasts and lone-wolf attacks in Hyderabad City to create terror in the minds of the common people.
“It was also learnt that Zahed had received hand grenades from Pakistan-based handlers and was planning to hurl at public gatherings and processions in order to create communal tension,” the FIR stated.
The Hyderabad Police had registered a case on October 1, 2022 under the charges of UAPA after it seized two hand grenades, two mobile phones and Rs 3,91, 800 from the premises of Zahed.
Considering the gravity of the case, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division handed over the case to the NIA as the case had inter-state and international linkages.