‘Cleric’ arrested in Uttar Pradesh over terror plot

The NIA has arrested a self-proclaimed cleric for allegedly planning terror attacks in the country. Abdus Sami Qasmi, a resident of Seelampur in the national capital, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district. He has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the conspiracy to form a terror organisation and launch terror attacks in the country, NIA officials said.

Sami has been delivering provocative and inflammatory speeches in support of the “Caliphate”, the NIA said. According to the agency, Sami has launched a few websites where his speeches have been uploaded and he had allegedly been instigating and motivating youth for anti-national activities. He had visited various parts of the country to deliver his takreer (speech) and bayaan (statement), NIA officials said.

Agency officials said Sami also ran a trust and madrasas and some of his financial transactions have allegedly been found to be of a suspicious nature.