Khan visited malls, markets in Noida and Gurugram: Police

NEWDELHI: Suspected JEM operative Sajjad Khan, who was allegedly sent to Delhi by JEM to identify possible places for a terror attack, had visited malls and markets in Noida and Gurugram, a senior police officer privy to Sajjad’s questioning said.

The officer said the 27-year-old told police he found it relatively easier to identify a target in malls and shopping markets of the two satellite towns – Gurugram and Noida. Sajjad also said he realised security is tighter in Delhi so he started focusing on Noida and Gurugram and informed Mudasir and other JEM leaders about it. However, Delhi Police, in their statement, did not release the names of the markets and malls Sajjad visited.

Sajjad, who had come to Delhi in December, also reportedly visited places in western Uttar Pradesh to “brainwash young Muslim men and motivate them to join the organisation”. An officer said he may have visited Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur, but Delhi Police did not name the places.

Investigating officers said Sajjad’s family was one of the most trusted ones by the JEM leadership. His two brothers, Ishfaq and Showkat, were both alleged JEM terrorists, who were killed in an encounter with security forces, claimed Delhi Police. The two were also arrested for stone pelting in the past. “The mastermind of the Pulwama attack, Mudasir, once reported to Sajjad’s brother, Ishfaq. Also, Sajjad’s second sibling, Showkat, was killed in an encounter with Usman Haider, JEM leader Masood Azhar’s nephew,” another officer said.

Police are probing the role of a man, who shared a rented room with Sajjad in the Jama Masjid area . Police are questioning him but are yet to find any links with JEM. Police have recovered a cell phone from Sajjad and are analysing his call detail records.

Another officer said after questioning Sajjad, it is clear terror groups are desperately planning an attack in Delhi.

“In January, we arrested Latif Ganai from Kashmir. Ganai, a mastermind of many grenade attacks in Kashmir, was tasked to plan attacks in Delhi. Now we have Sajjad. There is a pattern to JEM wanting to do something in Delhi,” the officer said.