Uttarakhand Links Emerge in Delhi Terror Attack; NIA Detains Three Suspects

Dehradun/Nainital: Investigations into the Delhi terror attack have revealed possible connections to Uttarakhand, prompting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to detain several suspects for questioning. The individuals were taken into custody from Nainital and Haldwani.

Details of the Detentions
Police initially detained Imam Aasim from Haldwani due to his links with accused Dr. Umar. After preliminary questioning revealed no active involvement, he was released. In total, two suspects were detained from Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, and one from Tallital, Nainital.

Following the arrests in Banbhoolpura, police heightened security measures in Haldwani and Nainital. The NIA, along with Delhi Police, STF, and local authorities, conducted a joint operation after the investigation traced connections to suspects in Nainital. Among those questioned were Maulana Mohammad Aasim Qasmi, Imam of Bilal Masjid in Banbhoolpura, and electrician Nazar Kamal. After extensive interrogation, both were released but remain under surveillance.

Tallital Mosque Imam Also Questioned
The Tallital police in Nainital also detained Maulana Mohammad Naeem, Imam of a mosque near the local slaughterhouse, for questioning. Following the recovery of critical leads in the Delhi blast case, all three individuals underwent long interrogation sessions. Additionally, a woman from Pithoragarh district in Kumaon was briefly detained and later released.

Background of the Suspects
Maulana Mohammad Aasim Qasmi, originally from Tanda Ghadiyal, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, resides in Banbhoolpura. Nazar Kamal, an electrician, lives in Jawahar Nagar, Khichdi Mohalla, Haldwani, with his family. Call records linked to the Delhi blast suspects included numbers from Uttarakhand, prompting NIA’s action.

Police Appeal to Public
SSP Nainital, Manjunath TC, stated that this is a national security matter and urged the public not to spread rumors or unverified information on social media. Citizens are advised to report any suspicious activity immediately to the authorities.