MEERUT: Confusion over the detention of three youths by UP Anti Terror Squad (ATS) was cleared on Monday, when the premier anti-terror operation agency officially announced the arrest of three youths staying in a Deoband based hostel.
Acting on an input provided by the Military Intelligence in Meerut, the ATS picked up these youths on Saturday that triggered a rumour mill doing the rounds as local police had no idea about the development.
20-year-old Inamul Haq is accused of being linked to Pakistan based terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and radicalising youths. Two others who were in touch with him and were being radicalised.
ADG, ATS, Gajendra Goswamy, told TOI that Inamul Haq was studying in a madrasa of Deoband from the last one year and was in touch with a handler suspected to be of (LeT).
“Videos related to Jihad were being circulated by Inamul Haque through his social media page and YouTube channel. He also radicalised two youths for joining LeT," said Goswamy.
According to UP's ADG (Law and order) Prashant Kumar, "UP ATS has arrested three youths (in early 20s) led by one Inamul Haq who was sharing Jihad related videos and encouraging others to join the groups. He is originally a resident of Giridih district in Jharkhand. His two roommates Mohammad Furqan Ali and Nabeel Khan were also arrested for similar activities. They come from Muzaffarnagar. All of them were staying in a hostel in Deoband town of UP."
Sources in the Army revealed disturbing details, "Haq has pro-terrorism leanings and exhibited a strong inclination towards Jaish-e-Mohammad ideology. He is the admin of whatsapp group 'Jaish-e-Mohd Al Jihad' with 233 participants. He is also in touch with half a dozen radical elements whose identity cannot be disclosed as of now. Besides, some of his chats revealed he was ready to undertake any task when asked."
Throughout the Saturday and Sunday confusion persisted in Deoband with rumour mills doing the rounds that ATS had picked up Bangladeshis illegally living at a hostel in Mohalla Khankah Road Darul Uloom Chowk, although, the owner of the hostel had revealed the students had rented the accomodation after showing valid documents.
Goswamy also said that Inamul Haq was radicalised by handlers of LeT from Pakistan. Through electronic surveillance, it has also come to the fore that he was planning to visit Pakistan where he was supposed to receive training of arms.
