Preacher from Haryana Held in Connection with ‘White-Collar’ Terror Module Linked to Red Fort Blast
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained Hafeez Mohammad Ishtiaq, a preacher from Mewat, Haryana, in connection with the recently uncovered ‘white-collar’ terror module allegedly linked to banned outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Ishtiyaq, an Imam at Al Falah Mosque in Faridabad’s Dhera Colony, was residing in a rented house within the Al Falah University complex, where authorities recovered over 2,500 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and sulphur. He has been brought to Srinagar and is likely to be placed under arrest, becoming the ninth person detained in the case.
The development follows an interstate operation conducted on November 10 by police teams from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to dismantle a terror network operating under the guise of academia. Investigations revealed that Ishtiyaq’s rented accommodation served as a storage site for large quantities of explosives handled by Dr Muzammil Ganaie alias Musaib and Dr Umar Nabi—key suspects in the case. Police believe the group used academic affiliations to mask their extremist activities and coordinate logistics for terror strikes.
The case has also been linked to the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 11, which killed at least 12 people. Authorities say the explosives used in the attack originated from materials stored at the Faridabad site. Earlier, eight individuals, including three doctors associated with Al Falah University, were arrested hours before the explosion. Police have since recovered nearly 3,000 kg of IED-making materials, including detonators and wires, marking one of the largest seizures in recent years.
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