Haris Farooqi, also known as Harish Ajmal Farukhi, and his associate Anurag Singh, alias Rehan, were arrested by Indian security forces in a carefully planned operation spanning 15 days in Dhubri district of Assam on Wednesday.
Led by Inspector General Parthasarathi Mahanta of Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF), the operation involved thorough analysis of intelligence inputs, local reconnaissance, strategic planning, and flawless execution. The suspects were intercepted as they crossed over from Bangladesh.
"At around 4 am on March 20, our team apprehended two individuals matching the description of the ISIS operatives in Dharmasala, Dhubri," stated Inspector General Mahanta during a press conference on Thursday. "The suspects were promptly handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further legal proceedings."
The success of the operation was attributed to seamless coordination among various law enforcement agencies and constant vigilance. "This arrest highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in combating terrorism," remarked Assam's Director General of Police G P Singh.
The investigation is currently focused on unraveling the ISIS network, identifying local collaborators, tracing funding sources, and gathering intelligence on potential threats. "Both suspects are being interrogated to extract vital information," Mahanta confirmed.
Hailing from diverse backgrounds, Farooqi is a native of Chakrata, Dehradun, while Singh hails from Panipat and reportedly converted to Islam. Singh's wife is said to be a Bangladeshi national.
Reacting to the successful operation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated the state's commitment to eradicating terrorism. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will continue our relentless fight against fundamentalism and ensure the security of our nation," he stated.
According to Assam Police Chief Public Relations Officer Pranabjyoti Goswami, both Farooqi and Singh are alleged to have played significant roles in furthering ISIS's agenda in India, including recruitment, terror funding, and plotting attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in various parts of the country.
The arrest of the ISIS operatives came just ahead of the deadline for filing the charge sheet in the NIA case related to the Delhi module, preventing the need for them to be declared absconding.
Both individuals are wanted in NIA cases related to the Delhi module, which includes incidents in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow.
Follow us
