Punjab CTD arrests 12 RAW terrorists in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur raids
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Punjab announced on Monday that it had arrested 12 terror suspects allegedly linked to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), during a series of intelligence-based raids conducted in Lahore, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur.
According to the CTD spokesperson, the operations were carried out with the assistance of other security agencies. Officials said that photographs, video clips, weapons and explosive materials were recovered from the possession of the detainees, adding that the arrests had helped foil major terrorist plots planned for the targeted cities. The seized items also included images and video footage of sensitive locations, including a religious seminary.
The spokesperson stated that the group had allegedly been planning to stoke panic and fuel sectarian tensions by mapping out attacks on religious sites and other key locations. He added that the suspects detained in Lahore were identified as Sukhdeep Singh, Azmat, Faizan, Nabil, Abrar, Usman and Sarfaraz, while Danish was arrested from Faisalabad. Four additional suspects — Rajab, Hashim, Saqib and Arif — were apprehended during a raid in Bahawalpur.
Authorities said the breakthrough came after investigators traced a Facebook account believed to be operated from India for the purpose of coordinating militant activities. The CTD further claimed that all the suspects were receiving financial support from RAW.
During the raids, officers confiscated seven improvised explosive devices, two detonators, 102 feet of safety fuse wire, explosives, firearms, mobile phones and cash, according to the spokesperson, who said investigations are currently underway.
