IS suspect held in Himachal, planning to visit Syria

A suspected member of terror outfit IS was arrested on Saturday by a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from a Himachal Pradesh village, the police said.

Abdul Abeed Khan, 23, a resident of Bengaluru and a suspected member of the Islamic State, was arrested in a joint operation by the NIA and the state police, Superintendent of Police Padam Chand told reporters in Kullu town.

Khan who was picked up from a a church in Banjar town in Kullu district, about 250 km from here, where he he had living and working as a helper for the past five to six months. He was living under the fake name of Paul.

A mobile phone and a laptop were recovered from his possession.

Chand said the accused was planning to reach Syria via Indonesia.

Another police official said the accused recently visited Sri Lanka.

A case was registered against him.

The official said the NIA had arrested two suspects in New Delhi in January and Khan was in touch with them.

He is likely to be produced in a court in Kullu town on Sunday.

--IANS

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