From PoK Training to Bangladesh Module: How ‘Raja Kashmiri’ Allegedly Orchestrated Anti-India Conspiracy

New Delhi, February 23, 2026: Indian security agencies have uncovered what they describe as a significant cross-border terror module allegedly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with operational threads stretching from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Bangladesh and multiple Indian states.

At the center of the investigation is Shabbir Ahmad Lone, also known as “Raja Kashmiri,” a former accused in a 2007 terror case who has resurfaced on intelligence radar as an alleged handler of a Bangladesh-based LeT cell.

2007 Arrest and Background

According to officials, Lone first came to prominence in the summer of 2007 when Delhi Police’s Special Cell received intelligence inputs that he had been recruited for a fidayeen attack in the capital on the directions of LeT’s launching commander Abu Al-Qama.

He was arrested in July 2007 from Chandni Chowk. A search of his Azadpur hideout reportedly led to the recovery of grenades, firearms, ammunition, ₹1 lakh in cash, and 280 US dollars, allegedly routed through hawala channels.

Investigations at the time also indicated alleged links with senior LeT figures, including Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Lone remained in custody until 2019 in connection with cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the Special Cell. He was granted bail in the money laundering case, with the court observing that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Following his release, he reportedly went off the radar.

Fresh Arrests in 2026

The case resurfaced this year after coordinated raids in Kolkata, West Bengal, and Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, resulted in the arrest of eight suspected operatives. Of the arrested individuals, seven are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals who had allegedly obtained Indian identity documents illegally.

Police claim to have recovered 10 mobile phones containing sensitive data, 25 debit and credit cards, five point-of-sale machines, and Bangladeshi passports from the suspects. Investigators say the group was conducting reconnaissance of sensitive installations. Photographs of a temple in Chandni Chowk were also reportedly found on their devices.

Agencies allege that digital evidence links the group to Lone, who is believed to be operating from Bangladesh.

Alleged Bangladesh-Based Module

Officials claim that Lone, originally from Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir, underwent 21 days of basic and three months of advanced training in Muzaffarabad, including weapons handling and improvised explosive device (IED) preparation.

Investigators allege that after his release from prison, he relocated to Bangladesh and began recruiting illegal Bangladeshi migrants working in sectors such as the garment industry. According to agencies, he allegedly viewed such recruits as “low-profile assets” less likely to attract suspicion compared to traditional cross-border infiltrators.

Authorities further allege that Lone coordinated with intermediaries, including a Bangladeshi national identified as Saidul Islam, who allegedly facilitated his entry and shelter in Bangladesh. Saidul is believed to have helped connect the Tamil Nadu-based group to Lone and another operative, enabling centralized command of dispersed modules.

Strategic Implications

Indian security agencies are treating the dismantling of the module as a major breakthrough, asserting that it may have prevented the emergence of a new terror corridor via Bangladesh.

The investigation is ongoing, with agencies continuing to track absconding members and examine digital and financial trails. Officials emphasize that the case highlights evolving recruitment patterns and the use of cross-border networks to orchestrate operations within India.

Authorities have reiterated that further disclosures will depend on interrogation outcomes and forensic analysis of seized devices.