Terrorist Attack / There was a conspiracy to terrorize Bengaluru before August 15, police seized 4 hand grenades; investigation continues

Terrorist Attack: Another major revelation has come to light in the Bengaluru terror conspiracy case. Officials of the Central City Crime Branch (CCB) have recovered four ready-to-use hand grenades from the residence of the arrested suspected terrorists. Sources have revealed that the suspected terrorists wanted to attack Bengaluru on or before August 15. Joint Commissioner of Police, CCB, Dr. Sharanappa SD said on Thursday that the team that nabbed the suspected terrorists seized four hand grenades from their residence in Kodigehalli area of Bengaluru. The suspected terrorist who received the package was not aware of the grenades.

The grenades were kept in the secret locker of the cupboard in the room of the house. Joint Commissioner Sharanappa said the suspected terrorists had used chemical powder to protect the grenades and prevent them from exploding. Other suspects are also being monitored regarding this case. The investigation is also going on in different directions. The 5 suspected terrorists arrested were produced in court and taken into police custody for 7 days.

Terrorist organizations wanted to give a message to the Government of India

Sources said the fifth accused in the case, Zahid Tabrez, had received the consignment of hand grenades from mastermind Mohammad Junaid, who is operating from the border areas of Afghanistan. The sources also said that there was a plan to carry out a major attack in Bengaluru on or before August 15. The terrorist organization wanted to send a message to the Government of India on various issues including the ban on Popular Front of India (PFI).

The police, after getting information about the presence of explosives, recovered them with the help of bomb disposal squad. The CCB wing had arrested Syed Suhail Khan, Mohd Faizal Rabbani, Mohd Umar, Mudassir Pasha and Zahid Tabrez on Wednesday. A huge quantity of explosives, weapons and equipment were seized from them. The Karnataka Police, probing the arrest of five suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, will take 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts suspect T. Nazir, lodged in the state capital's Central Jail, into police custody.

Nazir used to give instructions from jail

Sources said Nazir is suspected of brainwashing the arrested youths and acting as a gang commander. He gave orders to the accused and controlled the gang of terrorists through Mohammad Junaid. Nazir, hailing from Kerala, was allegedly giving instructions from jail. The arrested suspected terrorists had come in contact with Nazir through Junaid while in jail. Nazir had brainwashed him and linked Mohammad Junaid with the terrorist organization Lashkar. Junaid later brainwashes the arrested suspected terrorists again and prepares them to carry out a major terror attack in the IT city of Bengaluru.

The investigation also revealed that Nazir helped Junaid cross the Indian border. Special wing CCB sources said that Nazir will be taken into custody on a body warrant. Sources said that all the arrested accused have confessed that they were trained by Nazir to carry out terror attacks in the Central Jail.