Police claim to arrest ‘head of RAW terror wing’ in Karachi

KARACHI: Police forces on Thursday claimed to have arrested an agent of the premier Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ghulam Nabi Memon said the arrested person identified as Shahid Ilyas alias ‘Muttahida’ is the head of RAW’s terror wing.

Police forces conducted separate raids on a tip-off and arrested the terrorist and his two accomplices for running a terror network in Karachi. The police team also recovered two mortar launchers, nine rocket launchers, rockets, hand grenades and modern weaponry from their possession.

Memon said the accused person was connected with the RAW network to carry out terrorism activities in Karachi. He said Shahid Ilyas is associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement London (MQM-L). He allegedly received money through Hawala Hundi from India, whereas the group was also involved in distributing money to other terrorists.

AIG Memon revealed that the accused persons were involved in providing intel-based information to a person traced as Mehmood Siddiqui in India and those working against MQM-L’s policy.

He claimed the terror wing had also funded Khalid Shamim in Imran Farooq murder case and also paid money for serial bomb explosions in Karachi including Muharram blast in 2009.

Memon said that the terror wing of RAW’s Karachi chapter was under close monitoring and also used for arms supplies for terror activities. He requested the government for the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) terror financing is also included in the case and a major arrest has been made.

He further revealed that all three accused persons are government employees including one from Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and third is the worker of Karachi University.

Memon expressed suspicions that more people were also linked with the terror wing as ‘sleeper cells’. Along with Shahid Ilyas alias ‘Muttahida’, the others were identified as Majid and Adil.

He added that the men were trained by RAW and provided weapons to destroy peace in Karachi. He said the primary task of this group was terror financing, sending sensitive information and handing over assignments to others.