New Delhi, March 30, 2026 : In a major counter-terror operation, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handler, Shabir Ahmed Lone, from the Ghazipur area of Delhi.
The accused was produced before a court and has been remanded to five days of police custody for intensive interrogation.
🔍 Key Findings So Far
- Lone is described as a “highly trained and hardcore operative” linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba
- He allegedly maintained connections with handlers backed by Inter-Services Intelligence
- Operated as the main handler of a recently busted terror module involved in anti-national poster campaigns in Delhi and Kolkata
💰 Suspicious Recoveries
During the arrest, officials recovered:
- Foreign currencies (Bangladeshi, Nepali, Pakistani)
- Indian cash
- A Nepalese SIM card, indicating possible cross-border coordination
Investigators are now probing hawala funding networks and international links.
🌐 Cross-Border Network & Operations
Police revealed that Lone:
- Used Bangladesh as a base to rebuild terror networks targeting India
- Entered India via the Nepal border
- Was coordinating with foreign handlers using encrypted communication apps
He allegedly worked under operatives identified as Abu Huzaifa and Sumama Babar, directing recruitment and activities on Indian soil.
🎯 Terror Activities & Plans
- Led a module that carried out “test runs” by pasting pro-terror posters
- Conducted reconnaissance of sensitive locations, including temples and crowded public places
- Shared videos and intelligence with handlers based in Pakistan
Authorities say the network aimed to revive terror operations by exploiting illegal immigration channels and forged identities.
📜 Criminal History
- Arrested in 2007 with an AK-47 and grenade
- Arrested again in 2015 in Srinagar
- Trained in terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Daura-e-Aam and Daura-e-Khaas
⚠️ Security Impact
Officials termed the arrest a “significant breakthrough”, noting that:
- It has potentially prevented recruitment of vulnerable youth
- Helped dismantle a pan-India terror module
- Strengthened ongoing investigations into national security threats
Further interrogation is underway to uncover associates, funding trails, and future targets.
