Delhi Police Dismantles LeT-Linked Terror Module Operating from Bangladesh
In a significant counter-terrorism operation, Delhi Police announced on Monday that it has successfully dismantled a terror module with direct links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers operating from Bangladesh. The operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and is believed to have averted what officials described as a "major untoward incident" targeting India.
Key Operative Shabir Lone: A Long-Time LeT Associate
Investigators have identified the mastermind behind this module as Shabir Ahmed Lone, a resident of Ganderbal in Kashmir who is currently based in Bangladesh. Lone is described by security agencies as a long-time LeT associate who has been on their radar for nearly two decades.
His terrorist history includes:
- Arrest in 2007 with an AK-47 rifle and grenades as part of a planned fidayeen attack targeting a senior political leader
- Approximately a decade in jail on terrorism charges before being released on bail in 2019
- Fleeing to Bangladesh after his release where he re-established contact with LeT leadership
Special Cell Additional CP Pramod Kumar Kushwaha stated: "Initial investigations have revealed that he reconnected with the LeT leadership and re-established his organisation to carry out terrorist activities."
Direct Links to Top LeT Commanders
What makes this case particularly alarming is Lone's alleged direct connections with senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders. Delhi Police sources confirm that Lone was operating the India-based module on behalf of LeT and remained in direct touch with its top commanders.
Most significantly, investigators believe Lone maintained contact with:
- Hafiz Saeed - The 26/11 mastermind
- Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi - LeT's operations chief
This places Lone in what investigators describe as "the upper tier of the group's external operations network", indicating his significant role in cross-border terrorist activities targeting India.
Module Operations and Recruitment Tactics
According to investigation details, Lone coordinated activities from Bangladesh through encrypted messaging platforms and intermediaries. His alleged responsibilities included:
- Recruiting and radicalizing undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in India
- Arranging fake identity documents including Aadhaar cards
- Setting up logistics bases, including a rented safe house near Kolkata
Police have also linked the network to anti-India posters that appeared in Delhi and Kolkata. These posters were allegedly printed in Kolkata after a PDF file was sent from Bangladesh by Lone himself.
Arrests and Suspected Attack Plans
The eight arrested suspects were picked up from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. They were allegedly working in the garment sector while concealing their identities with forged documents.
Security agencies are currently investigating whether the group was planning attacks on:
- A temple or other crowded locations in Delhi
- Possible improvised explosive device (IED) strikes near the Red Fort and other high-footfall areas
Authorities are also examining potential links between this network and the November 2025 car blast near the Red Fort that killed 12 people. While Lone remains at large in Bangladesh, he continues to be identified as a key figure in Lashkar-e-Taiba's cross-border recruitment and operational network targeting India.
This operation highlights the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism and the sophisticated methods employed by terrorist networks to infiltrate and operate within India. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of this network's activities and connections.
