Srinagar, Feb 08: National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday said that it has arrested a resident from Budgam district of Central Kashmir in connection with a case regarding Al-Qaeda’s plans of triggering an IED blast in Lucknow city.

In a statement, on February 7, 2022, NIA arrested one accused person namely Tawheed Ahmad Shah S/o Bashir Ahmad Shah, R/o Akbar Colony, Aribagh, Manchowa, PS Chadoora, District Budgam,  J&K in connection with investigation of NIA Case RC-02/2021/NIA-LKW.

“The case was registered by ATS UP as FIR 10/2021 on 11.07.2021 in PS ATS Gomtinagar against the accused persons who had entered into a conspiracy for recruiting members for Al-Qaeda affiliate AGH (Ansaar Gajwatul Hind) and for committing terrorist acts in Lucknow. Earlier, NIA had arrested 05 accused persons in the case against whom chargesheet was filed on 05.01.2022,” the statement said. “Investigation revealed that the arrested accused Tawheed was the mastermind of the conspiracy for recruitment and to commit terrorist acts in the name of AGH; including procurement of arms, ammunitions and explosive materials to be used for attacks in UP.”.