UP cops arrest HM terrorist planning attack on Ganesh Chaturthi

A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who was planning an attack on Ganesh Chaturthi was arrested in Kanpur on Thursday, police said.

"The terrorist has been identified as Qamar-uz-Zama (37), a resident of Assam, and is an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen," Director General of Police OP Singh said.

He was arrested in Kanpur's Chakeri area, Singh said at a hurriedly convened press conference here.

The DGP said the arrested terrorist was planning an attack on Ganesh Chaturthi but did not elaborate, saying a probe is on.

Replying to a question, Singh said, "Whether he is here to vitiate the religious atmosphere or for any other purpose is part of the probe," he said.

The state's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which made the arrest, was tracking him for the past 8-10 days. It appeared from his mobile phone that he was carrying out a recce, police said,