Exclusive photos of UP ATS operation; NIA team reaches city

Reported by Sharib Jafri and Sudhanshu Srivastava

Lucknow: National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has reached the terror operation site of Thakurganj area where the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad had launched an operation against an ISIS terrorist on Tuesday last.

The operation finally ended hours after exchange of fire took place and the terrorist was found dead inside the house, early morning on Wednesday. "The suspected ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) terrorist was killed after over 11 hours of intense gun battle," said the IG ATS Aseem Arun.

The ATS commandos have recovered the dead body of the 23-year-old militant, identified as Saifullah, as they broke into the house by breaking the wall of the building.

Speaking over the incident, the IG ATS said, "The terrorist belonged to the ISIS Khorsan group. On inspecting the house through micro tube camera, it appeared that there were two terrorists. But there was only one."

"After analysing all aspects of the entire operation, we will hold a press conference here on Wednesday," he added.

According to the sources, the commandos have seized his laptop, mobile phone, hard disk and pro- ISIS documents from the house. The official confirmation is this regard is yet to be made.

The ATS is inspecting the house thoroughly to rule out the possibility of presence of any other terrorists.

A knife and a bag was also recovered from the shootout location, while the bomb-disposal squad has reached there.

Additional Director General of Police ADG (law and order) Daljit Chaudhary had earlier on Tuesday night said, "UP ATS launched the operation today afternoon after receiving a tip-off. It is suspected that terrorist is hiding in the Haji colony of the area. He fired at the ATS and in response the forces too have launched fire against him. The operation is still underway and we are continuously trying to nab him."

The police used tear gas weapons to get the terrorist out of the building. As of 2 am on Wednesday, the terrorist was seen sitting in the corner of the room. Police, however, was not sure if he was dead or alive.

IG Zone had also reached at the shootout location, to monitor the situation.

At around 2.45 am, the ATS commandos started to break the wall of the house to get inside. They had planned to create a 4x4 hole on the back side of the building for the same.

Three out of the four terrorists fled from the spot before police reached, while one was hiding inside the house of Hazi Kamal, who was killed in 2014, said the neighbours.

The forces were deployed to the Haji colony located in Thakurganj after a tip-off was given to the UP police regarding the presence of suspicious men.

The Newstrack.com correspondent present at the spot said that the man could be involved in the explosion that took place in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train near Shujalpur in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning. Ambulances and fire tenders had been rushed to the spot and neighbourhood was also cordoned off.

The ISIS terrorist has been identified as Saifullah and is said to be a resident of the city. He took the room, owned by a Dubai-based Indian namely Badshah, on rent and started to live there in disguise of a student, the correspondent added.

Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed confirmed the news stating that the anti terrorist force of the state is continuously trying to get the terrorists out of the hideout to nab them. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had taken the note of the situation from the DGP.

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