New Delhi

A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative was arrested near Delhi, exposing possible Bangladesh-based terror activities targeting India.

The Delhi Police Special Cell on Monday arrested a suspected operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba near the national capital, officials said. The accused, identified as Shabbir Ahmad Lone alias Raja alias Kashmiri, is believed to have been involved in planning and coordinating terror activities against India while operating from Bangladesh.

Lone, a resident of Kangan in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir, had been under close surveillance for some time. His arrest was carried out with the support of central intelligence agencies after inputs about his activities.

According to officials, Lone had been staying in Bangladesh and allegedly running operations linked to the terror outfit under the direction of Inter-Services Intelligence. Investigators said he played a key role in recruiting individuals, including Bangladeshi nationals and illegal immigrants in India, to carry out planned attacks. Authorities believe these efforts were aimed at hiding Pakistan’s involvement in such activities.

The arrest follows a recent crackdown by security agencies on a Lashkar-linked network operating in Delhi and parts of South India. This group was reportedly involved in spreading anti-India propaganda, including putting up posters in cities like Delhi and Kolkata.

Officials said Lone is a trained militant who underwent basic and advanced training in Muzaffarabad and maintained links with Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Arrested in 2007 with arms, he was jailed in Tihar Jail until 2018. He later moved to Bangladesh, rebuilding networks, and is now being questioned on recruitment, funding, and targets.