In a swift operation on Sunday, the counter-intelligence teams of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana foiled a terror plot aimed at carrying out bombings in India. Two suspects Siraj-ur-Rehman (29) from Vizianagaram and Syed Sameer (28) from Hyderabad were arrested and later remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Authorities believe the duo was influenced by a handler based in Saudi Arabia and were planning blast rehearsals this month.

The investigation revealed that the two had created a radical group named Al Hind Ittehadul Muslimeen (AHIM). Siraj acted as the primary planner while Sameer, employed at a lift-operating firm, supported him. The pair were reportedly preparing for bomb-making drills around May 21 or 22. However, police intervention disrupted their plans before any damage could be done.

The operation began after officials received intelligence on suspicious activity in Vizianagaram. Siraj, who had completed an engineering degree and moved to Hyderabad under the guise of preparing for government exams, was found in possession of explosive materials including sulphur, ammonia, and aluminium powder. These items were allegedly ordered online and delivered to his address for use in planned attacks.

Sameer Held After Siraj’s Interrogation, Both Remanded Under Terror Charges

Based on information gathered during Siraj’s interrogation, Hyderabad police detained Sameer after securing a prisoner transit warrant from the court. Both suspects were then presented before a local magistrate in Vizianagaram, who ordered their custody under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for conspiracy to commit terror acts and disturbing public order.

Authorities further uncovered that the accused were communicating with an unidentified terror coordinator through Instagram. This handler is believed to be stationed in Saudi Arabia and was reportedly directing their activities digitally. Investigators noted that the two had accessed bomb-making tutorials online as part of their preparations.

This attempted attack follows closely on the heels of a brutal incident in Jammu and Kashmir. On April 22, heavily armed militants stormed Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali citizen. The assault caused panic among tourists in the scenic region, often dubbed “Mini Switzerland,” as they struggled to find cover in the open terrain.

Op Sindoor Resulted in Multiple Retaliatory Strikes

The Pahalgam tragedy triggered a sharp military and diplomatic response from India. On the night between May 7 and 8, India launched Operation Sindoor, a strategic cross-border offensive targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The operation led to several retaliatory strikes before both countries agreed to suspend hostilities across all military fronts four days later.

As tensions with Pakistan escalated, Indian intelligence agencies had warned about the possible activation of sleeper cells across the country. The latest arrests appear to validate those concerns. Officials have urged citizens to remain alert and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, a broader crackdown on suspected espionage networks linked to Pakistan has led to several arrests in northern India. In Haryana, three individuals, including a YouTuber, have been detained for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives.

Four Held for Alleged Espionage Linked to Pakistan

Armaan, a 26-year-old from Nuh, was arrested for allegedly relaying intelligence about the Indian military to a staffer at Pakistan’s High Commission in Delhi. In Kaithal, Devendra Singh, a postgraduate diploma student, was caught for contacts with Pakistan’s ISI. Another accused, Shahzad from Uttar Pradesh’s Tandar village, had reportedly crossed into Pakistan multiple times and was involved in smuggling goods. In Hisar, social media personality Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody for suspected espionage after posting vlogs from her recent trips to Pakistan.

As investigations continue, police say the threat from both home-grown and foreign-influenced extremist elements remains high. Coordination between intelligence agencies and state police forces has intensified to prevent further attempts to destabilise national security.