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Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
AP police conduct fresh searches at home of detained terror suspect
The Rayachoti police in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district on Saturday seized fresh evidence from the house of one of the two suspects— Abu Bakr Siddiqui and Mohammad Ali— arrested by the Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday night in connection with an alleged terror plot, officers familiar with the matter said. AP police conduct fresh searches at home of detained terror suspect Police conducted fresh searches in Siddiqui's residence and seized a parcel bomb, the officers said. It was discovered that the parcel was prepared with a Delhi address, they added. 'We are investigating the Delhi connections of the accused. We are also looking into their possible connections with any foreign terrorist organizations,' an officer privy to the investigation said. Security has been tightened around the two suspects' residences and the police have also questioned some additional suspects, closely related to Siddiqui and Ali, the officer added. On Thursday, Kurnool range deputy inspector general of police Koya Praveen told reporters that Siddiqui and Ali were found to have been involved in extremist operations in Tamil Nadu. He said Rayachoti police also arrested Siddiqui's wife Shaikh Syra Banu and Ali's wife Shaikh Shameem and produced them before the court, which remanded them to 14 days in judicial custody. They were shifted to Kadapa Central Jail. The DIG said both Siddiqui and Ali belonged to the terrorist organization 'Al Ummah' and added they had plotted bomb blasts in three major cities of the country. 'We are investigating those who assisted the accused in Rayachoti. We have seized nearly 50 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) manufacturing materials and explosives,' he said. The police registered two cases at Rayachoti Urban police station under section 132 of the BNS(assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), Explosives Act (1908 & 1884), sections 13, 15 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, as well as additional charges under the UAPA and Explosives Act.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Big fish' bomb maker: Police say terror suspect was inspired by Zakir Naik; behind BJP office blast
NEW DELHI: One of the two terror suspects recently arrested in Andhra Pradesh's Rayachoti town has been identified as a major operative with extensive experience in bomb-making and links to past terror attacks, according to Andhra Pradesh Police. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Abubacker Siddique, in his 50s, was arrested along with Mohammed Ali by the Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier this week. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen described Siddique as a "big fish." "This fellow (Siddique) is too big a fish than what we had thought," Praveen told PTI. "He had travelled across the country and frequently visited Gulf nations. He operated as a lone wolf, offering his bomb-making expertise to those who shared his radical ideology." Links to Zakir Naik and previous attacks Police say Siddique was ideologically driven by the teachings of fugitive preacher Zakir Naik and had been acting independently, assisting others aligned with extremist ideologies. He is said to be an expert in manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), timer-based bombs, and electronic triggering mechanisms. Siddique is suspected of being involved in the bombing at the BJP office in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, as well as the 2011 pipe-bomb attempt in Madurai during BJP veteran L K Advani's rath yatra. Police are currently investigating his full network and past involvement in terror-related cases. Explosive materials, Isis literature, and digital evidence seized Authorities have carried out fresh searches at the suspects' premises, recovering several incriminating items. While no live explosives were found during Saturday's search, police seized documents and pen drives, adding to an already significant cache of evidence. Earlier searches yielded: Daggers, sickles, digital timers, clock switches, and speed controllers Ball bearings, nuts and bolts commonly used in IEDs Walkie-talkies, mobile phones, binoculars, and hacking software Maps of major Indian cities and Isis-inspired literature Coding manuals, digital storage devices, cheque books, and financial records On July 3, the police had also safely disposed of a parcel bomb recovered from the duo. Investigation continues into wider network DIG Praveen confirmed that Siddique had settled in Rayachoti in recent years, but his operations appear to have national and international footprints.
News18
04-07-2025
- News18
On The Run For 26 Years, 2 Accused In South India Blasts Arrested; Had Falsified Identities
Last Updated: Two blast accused who had been absconding for over 2 decades were arrested in Andhra Pradesh They had been living with false identities for 26 years in a small town. Two individuals, who were wanted in multiple high-profile bomb blast cases in South India and had been absconding for over 25 years, were arrested in a joint operation by Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Annamayya Police in Andhra Pradesh's Rayachoti town, the officials said. The arrested persons were identified as Abu Bakar Siddique alias Amanullah and Mohammed Ali alias Mansoor, who were living under false identities for over two decades, the police said. Both of them were affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Al Ummah and had been absconding since 1999 in connection with several bomb blast cases in Tamil Nadu, including incidents in Chennai, Trichy, and Coimbatore, they said. They had settled in Rayachoti and had married locally. Both operated small businesses under assumed identities, the police said. They were arrested after the Annamayya District Police carried out searches at Kothapalli and Mahbub Basha Street in Rayachoti on the basis of credible intelligence of their presence. 'A large quantity of explosive material capable of being used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was recovered from the houses," the police said. Several incriminating materials were seized from the spot. Electronic items were also confiscated, including walkie-talkies, radio equipment, hacking software, mobile phones, digital storage devices, and coding books. The officials also recovered maps of Indian cities, religious literature, binoculars, edged weapons, and financial records from the site. The police said that during raids, they also recovered materials capable of manufacturing around 50 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), along with other explosive substances. 'ISIS and Al Ummah share similar extremist ideologies, and Al Ummah is considered one of the largest terrorist outfits in South India," the official said. The police said that there is, however, no confirmation yet on whether the two individuals were carrying out recruitment or training activities in Rayachoti, where they were based in recent years. The police are investigating how explosive materials were brought to the area. National intelligence agencies are also actively involved in the case, the officials said. Amanullah and Mansoor were the main accused in a series of seven bomb blasts that occurred in 1999 across Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, and parts of Kerala. While living in Rayachoti, they were involved in the 2013 bomb blasts at the BJP office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, officials said. First Published: July 04, 2025, 08:55 IST
India Today
03-07-2025
- India Today
IEDs, religious texts found at Andhra homes of terrorists held after 30 years on run
In a major counter-terror breakthrough, the Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), with assistance from the Annamayya District Police, arrested two men wanted in multiple high-profile bomb blast cases. The accused had been living under false identities in Rayachoti town in Andhra Pradesh for over two the details at a press conference, Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General Dr Koya Praveen, Indian Police Service (IPS), and Annamayya District Superintendent of Police V Vidyasagar Naidu, IPS, said the two accused — Abu Bakar Siddique alias Amanullah and Mohammed Ali alias Mansoor — were arrested on June 30. advertisementThe duo, affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Al Ummah, had been absconding since 1999 in connection with several bomb blast cases in Tamil Nadu, including incidents in Chennai, Trichy, and Coimbatore. They had settled in Rayachoti, married locally, and were operating small businesses under assumed RECOVERED Following credible intelligence, the Annamayya District Police carried out searches at Kothapalli and Mahbub Basha Street in Rayachoti. A large quantity of explosive material capable of being used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was recovered from the materials included ammonium nitrate mixed with fuel oil, slurry explosives (possibly containing TNT or nitroglycerin), a PETN-based bomb in a 20 kg suitcase, two other containers suspected to be IEDs, potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, potassium permanganate, gunpowder, ball bearings, nuts and bolts, clock mechanisms, pressure switches, pull switches, and speed items such as walkie-talkies, radio equipment, hacking software, mobile phones, digital storage devices, and coding books were also recovered. Additionally, maps of Indian cities, religious literature, binoculars, edged weapons, and financial records such as cheque books and property documents were ARRESTED FOR OBSTRUCTING POLICEDuring the house search, the wives of the accused — Saira Bhanu (wife of Siddique) and Sheikh Shamim (wife of Ali) — did not resist initially but later attempted to assault women police officers. Both were arrested and remanded to Kadapa Central Jail. Their possible involvement in the activities of the accused is under cases have been registered at Rayachoti Urban Police Station under Sections 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), provisions of the Explosive Substances Act of 1908 and 1884, Sections 13, 15, and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, and Sections 3, 25(a), and 25(1-B)(a) of the Arms Act of 1959. And Sections 132 of the BNS, Section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, and the same sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) officials revealed that the suspects were previously involved in numerous terror cases. Siddique is listed as an accused in the 1995 Nagur Police Station murder and explosives case, the Chintadripet bomb blast case, and the 2011 pipe-bomb planting attempt during former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani's rath yatra in Madurai, among others. Mohammed Ali is wanted for his role in planting bombs, including one outside the Commissioner's Office in Egmore, Chennai, in one notable incident in 1999, both accused were allegedly transporting explosives on the Cochin–Kurla Express when a fire broke out. They were intercepted at Kasaragod in Kerala. The operation that led to their arrest was carried out by officers from the Rajampet, Madanapalle, and Rayachoti subdivisions, in coordination with the Special Branch, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCS), and Cyber Cell personnel.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh#Tamil Nadu
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- The Hindu
Two arrested in Rayachoti of Andhra Pradesh for suspected terror links
Two people, identified as Abubakar Siddiqui and Mohammed Ali, were arrested at Rayachoti, the headquarters of Annamayya district, on Tuesday night, for their alleged terror links. The duo, reportedly brothers, had been living under aliases in Rayachoti for the past three decades. The Annamayya police said that Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials undertook the operation against the suspects in many terror cases reported from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The duo had been living in Kothapalli area and maintaining a low profile, selling saris. The two siblings are key suspects in the plotting of a series of bomb attacks, particularly the 1995 parcel bomb case. The duo was also wanted in the 2011 Madurai bomb attack plan, targeting veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani's Rath Yatra campaign. The charges against them included the 2013 Malleswaram BJP office blast in Karnataka, the 1999 serial blasts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the murder of Vellore-based doctor Arvind Reddy in 2012. Police sources said that the suspects had married women belonging to the Madanapalle division and lived in rented accommodations to escape the police. However, they allegedly remained active in underground extremist operations. With reliable information, the IB team made a secret base in Rayachoti a few months ago and monitored the movements of the suspects. Interestingly, the IB personnel had disguised themselves as street vendors. After a two-month-long intense surveillance, the ATS sleuths, in coordination with the Annamayya district police, raided their houses and arrested the suspects. The suspects were shifted to Chennai for a detailed probe and reconstruction of scenes in the cases allegedly involving the duo. The ATS officials were said to have confiscated raw explosive goods, literature related to terrorism, and incriminating documents from their houses of the suspects. The local residents told the police that the duo would maintain minimal interaction with the neighbourhood and that they used to go outstations frequently. The portions rented by the accused have been sealed and a police party has been posted there. Two women hailing from Tsundupalle mandal of Annamayya district, said to be the spouses of the suspects, were also taken into custody for questioning. Before the operation, the police maintained strict surveillance at the checkposts along the inter-district and inter-State border. The incident sent shockwaves across the district, particularly against the backdrop of recent communal disturbances in Rayachoti.
