Bengaluru police arrest man suspected of TTP links

Bengaluru police have arrested a 25-year-old man from West Bengal who allegedly conspired with a member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to join the outfit and plan attacks against the Pakistan Army and India. The suspect, Asaful Mallik, was taken into custody on August 11 from the Bommasandra Industrial Area after police received a tip-off. Mallik, a security guard living in Jigani, had reportedly contacted Imran Ahinder, a TTP member in Afghanistan, through Facebook.

The Federal reports that Mallik was allegedly influenced by what he perceived as atrocities by the Pakistan Army against mosques and people in Pakistan, as well as its alleged support for Israel in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Investigators found messages and audio recordings on his phone indicating his intention to take revenge. He had obtained a passport and applied for a visa to go to Afghanistan but did not travel. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for conspiracy and facilitation of a terrorist act. Further investigation is underway.