Vizianagaram/Hyderabad: Police in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have jointly foiled a terror conspiracy, arresting two individuals suspected of planning bomb blasts in the region. The accused have been identified as Siraj Ur Rehman of Vizianagaram and Syed Sameer of Bhoiguda, Hyderabad.
According to police, Siraj, an engineering graduate, and Sameer, a lift operator, were found to be operating under a self-styled radical outfit named Al Hind Ittehadul Muslimeen (AHIM). Investigations revealed that the two had conducted rehearsal blasts in the outskirts of Vizianagaram and were plotting coordinated explosions.
Crucially, intelligence inputs indicated that the duo were in contact with a handler from an unidentified terror group based in Saudi Arabia. Communication between the handler and the accused reportedly took place via Instagram. The accused had allegedly purchased explosive materials online and had planned to carry out trial blasts on May 21 or 22 in Vizianagaram.
Siraj, who had travelled to Vizianagaram to appear for the Group-2 exams, is believed to have recruited Sameer into the plot. A subsequent raid on Siraj’s residence led to the seizure of explosive chemicals. Meanwhile, Sameer was detained in Secunderabad and brought to Vizianagaram on a transit warrant.
Both suspects were formally arrested and produced before a local court, which remanded them to 14 days in judicial custody. Authorities are continuing their investigation into potential links with international terror outfits.