Uttar Pradesh (Islamist/Other Conflicts): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

A person identified as Abdullah Saood Ansari, a resident of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh who was arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on September 30, 2022 for his suspected links with the Popular Front of India (PFI) was granted bail by the Hon’ble Additional District and Sessions Judge, Special Judge NIA/ Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) Lucknow on January 7, reports muslimmirror.com. It was suspected that the accused was working as an active member of PFI from the year 2017. However, the investigating officer in the case found no evidence to prove the connection of the accused to the PFI. Read less...

Intelligence sources stated that Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) are planning a major attack on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya (earlier known as Faizabad) in Uttar Pradesh in an attempt to foment Hindu-Muslim communal violence, reports news18.com on January 10. Sources further revealed that the JeM and LeT would be bringing ammunition and suicide bombers from Nepal to carry out the attack. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 25, arrested Deepak Ranga, the main shooter in the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali District of Punjab on May 9, 2022 from Gorakhpur District of Uttar Pradesh, reports India Today. Deepak Ranga, a resident of Surakpur village in Jhajjar District of Haryana is a close associate of Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa and Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. An NIA spokesperson stated that apart from his involvement in the RPG attack, Deepak has been involved in a number of other violent terrorist and criminal offences, including violent killings. He has been actively receiving terror funds and logistical support from Rinda and Landa. Read less...

A special NIA court in Lucknow on January 30, awarded death sentence to Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, who was arrested in connection with an attack on security personnel stationed at Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur District of Uttar Pradesh in April 2022, reports India Today. The accused had attacked Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel stationed at the Gorakhnath temple. The interrogation of Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi revealed the accused’s connection to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS). According to UP Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Murtaza Abbasi had taken the oath of fighting for IS and was providing financial assistance to supporters of the militant organisation. Read less...