After terror suspects nabbed with IED, Raj police to visit Ambala

Jaipur: A joint team of Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Hanumangarh police is set to visit Ambala in Haryana after the Haryana Special Task Force (STF) arrested three suspected terrorists with an improvised explosive device (IED), triggering security concerns in Rajasthan and neighbouring states.During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly said they were planning explosions in several cities across the country. Hanumangarh in Rajasthan has emerged as one of the possible targets, though officials said this is yet to be officially confirmed.Officials in Hanumangarh said the team will coordinate with Haryana police to gather details on the suspects' movements, possible associates and any links to Rajasthan. Investigators are also trying to establish whether any locals were in contact with the accused and whether any explosive material was stored in Hanumangarh."We need to know if the accused kept RDX in Hanumangarh and whether any locals were involved in assisting them. We will gather further details from Haryana police during our visit. Since the case is being investigated by Haryana police, we are maintaining constant coordination with them," said Arvind Bishnoi, additional SP, Hanumangarh.Rajasthan ATS additional director general Dinesh MN said a team has already been dispatched to Haryana for more information. "Our team was sent there to obtain finer details related to the case. At present, we cannot share much as the investigation is underway," he said.Sources said the suspects had allegedly filmed certain locations in Hanumangarh and shared the videos with their handlers to identify potential targets. Investigators are also examining whether the accused temporarily stored IED components or explosive material in the district before moving them elsewhere.The arrests were made late Friday evening in the Barara area of Ambala district after the Haryana STF recovered a two kg IED from the suspects during a targeted operation based on intelligence inputs.The accused, aged between 20 and 25, were identified as Ali Akbar, a resident of Ajmer in Rajasthan; Anas from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh; and Jangvir from Barara in Ambala district of Haryana.Sources said the suspects had initially planned to transport RDX to Hanumangarh, but the consignment never reached the district. They later changed their plan and moved towards Ambala with the IEDs, where they were arrested.eom