Shabir Ahmed Lone Allegedly Ran Bangladesh-Based LeT Terror

Shabir Ahmed Lone: In a significant counter-terror breakthrough, Delhi Police’s Special Cell has dismantled a Bangladesh-based LeT terror module that officials say was being remotely controlled by a long-time operative with direct links to top Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders.

Eight suspects have been arrested from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, while the alleged handler, Shabir Ahmed Lone — believed to be operating from Bangladesh — remains under close scrutiny as investigators piece together what they describe as a potentially “major untoward incident” in the making.

Who Is Shabir Ahmed Lone?

According to investigators, Shabir Ahmed Lone is not a new name in security dossiers. A resident of Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir, Lone has allegedly been associated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba for nearly two decades.

Security agencies first arrested Lone in 2007. At the time, he was allegedly in possession of an AK-47 rifle and grenades and was suspected to be part of a planned fidayeen-style attack targeting a senior political leader. He spent approximately ten years in prison on terrorism-related charges before securing bail in 2019.

Officials now claim that after his release, Lone fled to Bangladesh, where he reportedly revived dormant links with LeT leadership and began rebuilding an operational network targeting India.

Special Cell Additional CP Pramod Kumar Kushwaha stated that initial investigations indicate Lone “reconnected with the LeT leadership and re-established his organisation to carry out terrorist activities.”

Alleged Links to Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi

Investigators believe Lone maintained direct contact with senior LeT figures, including 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and operations chief Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi.

While the full extent of these communications is still under forensic examination, police sources suggest that Lone’s proximity to the top command structure placed him within the upper tier of LeT’s external operations network.

Authorities allege that he coordinated module activities through encrypted messaging platforms and intermediaries to avoid detection.

Shabir Ahmed Lone: Recruitment, Fake IDs and Logistics

The dismantled Bangladesh-based LeT terror module reportedly focused on recruiting and radicalising undocumented Bangladeshi migrants residing in India. According to investigators, operatives were tasked with:

• Arranging forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards

• Establishing safe houses, including a rented property near Kolkata

• Managing cross-border communication channels

• Spreading anti-India propaganda through posters and digital material

Police have linked the network to provocative posters that surfaced in Delhi and Kolkata. Investigators allege that the design files were sent as PDFs from Bangladesh by Lone and printed locally in Kolkata before distribution.

The use of legitimate employment as cover — particularly in the garment sector — allowed the accused to blend into urban environments while allegedly coordinating logistics.

Suspected Attack Plans Under Probe

Security agencies are now examining whether the group was planning attacks on religious or high-footfall locations in the national capital. Intelligence alerts had earlier warned of a possible improvised explosive device (IED) strike near the iconic Red Fort and other crowded areas.

Officials are also investigating whether the dismantled network has any connection to the November 2025 car blast near the Red Fort that claimed 12 lives. While no formal link has yet been established, the overlap in operational patterns has prompted deeper scrutiny.

Authorities describe the arrests as pre-emptive, potentially preventing a large-scale incident.