Bengaluru, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday asserted that the state would not be allowed to become a "sleeper cell" for terrorists while commenting on the arrest of a suspected terrorist in Davanagere.
“In no way is Karnataka a sleeper cell for terrorists. We will not allow Karnataka to become a sleeper cell for terrorists,” Kharge said while addressing reporters in Bengaluru.
His remarks came in response to questions about the arrest of a suspected terrorist by the Karnataka Police and reports of an audio clip purportedly featuring the accused discussing a plan to carry out a bomb blast at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Responding to the reports, Kharge said the investigation was progressing in coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“As soon as the suspect was arrested, all the information available in his WhatsApp chats was extracted for investigation. Officers of the National Investigation Agency have also arrived and interrogated the accused,” he said.
Kharge said the Karnataka Police were extending full cooperation to the NIA, as the case falls within the agency's jurisdiction.
“We have to act in accordance with the directions of the NIA because the case exceeds our jurisdiction. We are fully cooperating with the agency,” he said.
The Home Minister urged the public not to draw incorrect conclusions from the incident.
“A wrong message should not go out to the public. There is no sleeper cell operating in Karnataka. We need to understand where such suspects come from. They are not local Kannada-speaking people and they do not hail from Karnataka,” he said.
Kharge claimed that such individuals often arrive in the state as migrant labourers from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, and their alleged involvement in unlawful activities comes to light only during investigations.
“They come here as migrant workers, and no one knows about their alleged activities until they are uncovered. Our intelligence agencies and police personnel remain vigilant and continue to monitor such threats,” he added.
It may be noted that, in a joint operation, police and intelligence officials arrested a man on June 24 who is suspected of having links to Pakistan and involvement in terror-related activities in Karnataka's Davanagere district.
The accused, identified as Suhail, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had recently arrived in Harihar taluk for painting work and was staying in a village under the jurisdiction of the Harihar Rural Police Station.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed information related to suspected terrorist activities on his WhatsApp account.
State Home Minister Priyank Kharge confirmed the arrest and said a case had been registered at the Harihar Rural Police Station. Further investigation is underway.
The probe revealed that he was allegedly maintaining contact with foreign handlers involved in online radicalisation activities, prompting an investigation into possible terror-related links.
The accused, identified as Suhail, 20, had arrived in Harihar about 15 days earlier in search of work and was employed as a painter at a private factory. He was staying in a rented house within the jurisdiction of the Harihar Rural Police Station.
According to the police, a Harihar Rural Police sub-inspector noticed suspicious behaviour while on patrol and questioned the youth. His inability to provide satisfactory answers led officers to conduct a detailed verification of his background and digital activities.
Source: IANS
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