The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested three more “terror suspects” linked to the alleged al-Qaeda module busted in Lucknow on Sunday, the Additional Director General (ADG) of police, Prashant Kumar said.
The three arrested have been identified as Shakeel Hussain (35), Mohammad Mustakeem (44) and Mohammad Mueed. These three have been accused of helping Minhaz Ahmad and Maseerudeen (the two arrested on Sunday) in their plan to carry out serial blasts, said the ADG.
The UP ATS claims that the names of the trio surfaced during interrogation of Minhaz and Maseerudeen. Thus, the three were brought to the ATS police station where they were arrested after interrogation.
Meanwhile, Shakeel’s family members allege that the UP ATS has falsely framed him. And that nothing objectionable was found in his posession. The family says that Shakeel drives an e-rickshaw for livelihood.
“He has a clean record and never got involved in criminal activity in the past. He is being framed because of being from a particular community,” the family alleged.
Also, while some news channels were reporting on the incident, Shakeel’s family and neighbors had a confrontation with crew of two channels.
An official from the UP ATS says that the three will appear before the special ATS court and that their custody will be sought for further interrogation.