ISI agent held in AP capital

Hyderabad, Apr 2 (UNI) Police detained a suspected ISI agent late last night while he was reportedly trying to hire assailants to liquidate some top BJP leaders of the state.

According to a police press release here, security was tightened following intelligence inputs about a possible 'fidayen' attacks on top BJP leaders.

Maqsood Ahmed (26) was picked up at a bus stand in Rajbhavan Road during an intensive search operation and some CDs and floppies with inflammatory speeches on 'jihad' were seized from him.

A resident of Malakpet area of the city, Maqsood was working as a showroom manager. In 1999, he joined the DJS run by Mahboob Ali and given training in unarmed combat.

Maqsood was arrested along with Mahboob Ali in 2001 for listening to provocative speeches.

Maqsood came into contact with Mohd Abdul Shahed, alias Bilal, a native of Hyderabad and an active ISI agent operating from Bangladesh, through his childhood friend Mohd Ibrahim, also an ISI agent.

Shahed worked for Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba. He played a major role in the Task Force Office blast in Begumpet in September 2006.

In July 2006, Maqsood went abroad to meet Shahed who instigated him to take up 'jihad' or holy war and gave him CDs containing provocative speeches and money to carry out the operations, the release added.

The duo also conspired to recruit youths for 'jihadi' operations in Hyderabad and Gujarat. On his return, Maqsood was on the job of instigating youths to join the 'jihad.' Police were interrogating Maqsood to get information about others involved in the operation. Security had been beefed up at the residences of top BJP leaders and they were advised not to move about without prior information to the police and proper security.

UNI