Hyderabad hand grenade case: Charge sheet against 3 LeT terrorists

NIA investigation revealed that LeT operatives were in touch with terrorist leaders based in Pakistan and had aimed to carry out bomb blasts at crowded places in Hyderabad

SRINAGAR | Updated: 29 March, 2023 7:25 pm IST

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday, March 29, filed a charge sheet against three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives in the case pertaining to carrying bomb blasts in Hyderabad.

The three individuals, Mohd Abdul Wajid alias Zahed, Samiuddin alias Sami and Maaz Hasan Farooq alias Maaz, have been named for conspiring to carry out terrorist activities. The three were allegedly involved in raising funds, collecting explosives and carrying out recruitment for the LeT.

The investigation was taken over by the NIA from the Hyderabad police in January this year.

NIA investigations have revealed that Zahed, Sami and Maaz were in touch with Farhatullah Ghori, an ‘individual terrorist’ listed by the Government of India. Simultaneously, they were also in touch with Siddiqu bin Osman alias Abu Hanzala, Abdul Majeed alias Chotu and other LeT leaders and operatives based in Pakistan. They had aimed to carry out bomb blasts at crowded places in Hyderabad City.

Ghori had recruited Zahed online and sent funds to him through hawala channels. Zahed was tasked with recruiting more persons into LeT with the intent to carry out terrorist acts. Sami, Maaz and Mohammed Kaleem were then recruited by Zahed to work for the LeT.

Four hand grenades were dropped at an isolated spot near Manoharabad village on the Hyderabad-Nagpur Highway (NH-44) on 28.09.2022 to carry out terrorist acts within Hyderabad city, the NIA stated in its charge sheet.

“The probe further revealed that Sami was tasked to collect the hand grenade consignment as per Zahed’s instructions. Zahed distributed one grenade each to Sami and Maaz,” the NIA stated. “All of them were then tasked to hurl the same at public gatherings during the Dussehra festival,” it added.

However, their terror plot was foiled, as they were arrested before the planned attacks. The grenades were recovered from their possessions during a search of their houses. NIA also recovered ₹20 lakhs from Zahed’s house.

Based on the investigation, NIA has filed a charge sheet today against Zahed, Sami and Maaz under Sections 120B, 153A of the IPC, Sections 4, 5, 6 of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 and Sections 13, 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38, 39 of the UA (P) Act, 1967.

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