Made-in-China grenades airdropped by Pakistani drones; Hyderabad police arrests 3 for plotting public attacks

According to the city police, Malakpet resident Abdul Zahed had revived his contacts with Pakistani ISI conduits and conspired to create terror in the minds of the common public. At the behest of Pakistan-based handlers he had recruited the two other accused - Samiuddin and Maaz Hasan.

TN National Desk

Updated Oct 4, 2022, 13:22 IST

Representational image

Photo : IANS

Hyderabad: Three people arrested last week for conspiring to hurl grenades in public gatherings have now been linked to the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. The suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives had planned to target Dussehra processions in Hyderabad, launch ISIS-inspired lone-wolf attacks amid the festive season and 'hurl grenades' at sangh and BJP meetings.

Police had recovered four hand grenades from the possession of the accused. They were allegedly intended for use in public gatherings through his group members. As per a Times of India report, quoting sources, these had been airdropped by Pakistani drones along the Punjab border a few months ago and bore definitive made-in-China tags.

An official Hyderabad police release revealed that Zahed had previously been involved in several terror-related cases in Hyderabad including a suicide attack on the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner's task-force office Begumpet in 2005. He was in regular touch with Pakistani ISI-LeT handlers.

Reportedly, efforts are now being made to track down the terror network that smuggled the airdropped consignment to the suspected LeT operatives. There is a possibility that the National Investigation Agency will take over the case.

“The accused received a portion of the terror consignment. We got leads on those who shipped the China-made grenades to terror kingpin Zahed. The modus operandi is similar to the smuggling of Pakistani ammunition from Haryana to Nanded in Maharashtra,” TOI quoted an intelligence officer as saying.

Latest News