Two ‘TTP activists’ held

Suspects trained in Afghanistan, say police

KARACHI:

The Steel Town Police claimed on Monday to have arrested two terrorists affiliated with banned militant outfit, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The suspects were allegedly involved in various terrorism incidents, including attacks on the military. The police said that the suspects, identified as Saifullah alias Mohsin alias Saddam Hussain and Hazrat Bilal alias Bilal, were associated with the TTP’s Sajna group, which joined the militant organisation in 2013. The sleeper cell of the TTP was amassing funds and luring youngsters towards its ideology, said the police.

The cops claimed to have found short machine guns, ammunition and hand grenades in their possession.

Read More: Police claim to have arrested 3 TTP men

The arrested due allegedly told the police that they were working in West district, particularly in Manghopir area under TTP’s Sajna group commander Fakhruddin alias Malang. They would collect extortion money and hand it over to Malang.

According to the police, the suspects joined TTP’s Sajna group in 2013 and had gone to Afghanistan for militancy training. Besides, Saifullah confessed to setting fire to a container loaded with NATO supplies in Manghopir in 2013 after it broke down near the Northern Bypass, said the police, adding that Saifullah then fled to Shawal, South Waziristan.

The duo carried out several attacks on the Pakistan Army in Shahwal. Besides, while in Karachi they carried out various extortions and robberies.

The police lodged cases against the two suspects and launched further investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2021.