New Delhi: Following the discovery of the chopped body of a murder victim from Delhi's Bhalswa dairy area, terror links emerged in the case on Sunday, connecting the accused to a Pakistan-based handler to whom the duo sent a 37-second clip of the crime. According to several reports, the victim was a 21-year-old man, who was identified through a tattoo on his hand. The victim was a drug addict, they further stated.
According to police, the recorded clip was proof of allegiance from the accused to their handler, identified as one Sohail, who is associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. Any possible link to the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI is also being probed, they added. At least three pistols, 22 cartridges and two hand grenades have been recovered from Naushad and Khalistani separatist Jagjit Singh, the Delhi police said. The accused were arrested under UAPA and will be kept under 14-day police custody, HGS Dhaliwal, Special CP, Special Cell said. Meanwhile, reports observed that Rs 2 lakhs were transferred to the bank account of Naushad via the account of his brother-in-law based in Qatar after the video was sent.
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A total of six pieces of the body were recovered by the special team of Delhi police early on Tuesday. Traces of blood were also discovered at the spot by the forensic team, which have been sent for further examination. The accused claimed they lured the victim to Naushad's rented accommodation in the area on December 14-15, police said, adding they initially strangled the 21-year-old before beheading him and chopping the body. The accused stored body parts inside the house, and disposed them of at a nearby pond in a phased manner using plastic bags, police said.
Among the two, Naushad (56) is a long-time criminal, who has previously faced jail time due to charges such as murder and extortion. Naushad had been previously associated with the radical outfit Harkat ul-Ansar, and went to jail for the first time in 1991-92, as per reports. In prison, he got introduced to LeT terrorists, including the 2001 Red Fort attack-accused Arif Mohammad as well as Sohail.
Naushad was introduced to the second accused Khalistani separatist Jagjit Singh during his last jail stint between 2020 and 2022. Jagjit, an associate of Canada-based insurgent Arshdeep Singh Gill, was directed by Sohail to further the Khalistani cause whereas Naushad was tasked with killing influential members of the Hindu community, reports further noted.
