Delhi Police reveals al Qaeda training camp exists `somewhere in Jharkhand`

As per a report, the police made the revelation in an application filed before a court in Delhi last week.

New Delhi/Ranchi: The Delhi Police has disclosed that a training camp of al Qaeda terror group has been operating “somewhere in Jharkhand”.

As per a report in the Hindustan Times, the police made the revelation in an application filed before a court in Delhi last week.

The police told the court that they were on the lookout for one Abu Sufiyan, who hails from Jharkhand.

Abu Sufiyan, suspect police, had visited Pakistan to receive training at terror camps run by the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and al Qaeda in Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS).

The application was filed to seek grant of more time to file chargesheet against al Qaeda operative Mohammad Asif, who was nabbed on December 14 last year.

The court is reported to have granted the time extension.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police's revelation has come as a headache for the state's security apparatus as Jharkhand continues to deal with the Naxal menace in at least 16 out of its 24 districts.

Jharkhand Police has so far denied existence of any terror camp of al Qaeda on its soil.

There are no terror camps in Jharkhand jungles, police spokesperson SN Pradhan said.

HT quoted Inspector General of Police (operation) MS Bhatia as saying, “Modules of the Indian Mujahiddin existed in the state but they have been busted. They were responsible for the Patna and the Bodh Gaya blasts. The terrorists develop sleeper cells in the state whose members carry out violent acts in other states.”

Earlier this year, in a series of arrests, the Delhi Police had nabbed five AQIS members - identified as Mohammad Asif, Zafar Masood, Mohammad Abdul Rehman, Syed Anzar Shah and Abdul Sami - from different states.

The daily reported that Sami, who lives in Jamshedpur, had allegedly travelled to Pakistan along with Abu Sufiyan.

“Sufiyan’s arrest is crucial in finding out the missing links of the larger conspiracy,” the police application said.

Delhi Police had earlier said that the arrested AQIS operatives planned to attack Delhi and other cities on January 26.