Retired army soldier arrested by Delhi Police for alleged links to LeT

Delhi Police have detained Riyaz Ahmed, a retired Army soldier suspected of ties to the proscribed terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on Sunday, February 4, from the New Delhi Railway Station.

Ahmed’s apprehension follows significant developments, with the Jammu and Kashmir Police recently dismantling a LeT module operating in Kupwara district. The module’s exposure revealed plans for potential attacks in the region. Police sources indicate Ahmed’s active involvement in the conspiracy alongside two other individuals, Khursheed Ahmad Rather and Ghulam Sarwar Rather, collaborating with handlers across the Line of Control (LoC) to procure weapons and ammunition.

Delhi Police, in a statement, affirmed, “The accused, Riyaz Ahmed, a retired army personnel, was actively involved in hatching a conspiracy along with his associates to receive arms and ammunition from across the LoC by the terrorist handlers of LeT for carrying out subversive activities in J&K.”

Additionally, Riyaz Ahmed, the Lashkar terrorist arrested based on a tip from Jammu and Kashmir police, was wanted in connection with an arms and drugs smuggling case. Baramulla police had been trailing him after the arrest of his four associates in recent months. Ahmed had reportedly received about four consignments of weapons and drugs from across the border while working for Lashkar through wanted terrorist Shakoor, a Lashkar handler situated in PoK.

Among the individuals apprehended was Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, found in possession of an AK series rifle, magazines, rounds, and pistols. Investigations revealed Bhat’s communication with two PoK-based LeT handlers, facilitating the dispatch of weapon consignments to support their illicit activities.