UP Migrant With Pakistan Connection Arrested In Davangere: Karnataka Minister Kharge

In a coordinated anti-terror operation, Davangere district police have arrested a 20-year-old migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh on suspicion of having links with a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

The suspect, identified as Suhail, a native of Shahjahanpur, was taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday following intelligence inputs and subsequently handed over to Tumkur police for further investigation.

Karnataka's Home Minister, Priyank Kharge, confirmed the arrest, stating that the individual had been residing in the region while working as a painter in a factory in Harihar taluk.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "He is a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh. Our preliminary investigation has revealed that he has been in contact with individuals across the border. As soon as we received information that a UP resident was here and maintaining communication with people in Pakistan and other locations, we acted swiftly and took him into custody,"

He added that further interrogation would determine the full extent of his contacts and their intentions.

VIDEO | Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on a terror suspect arrested from village in Davanagere district, says, "He is a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh. The preliminary investigation has revealed that he has been in touch with certain some people from… pic.twitter.com/c6f464Hn69

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The operation was launched based on a tip-off provided by another terror suspect who was arrested in Tumkur on June 4. Acting on directives from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the district police, along with central intelligence officials and the district crime branch, conducted a pre-dawn raid on June 23 at a village in Davangere district, where Suhail was reportedly living under the guise of a painter, according to a report in India Today.

Authorities revealed that incriminating material related to terrorist activities was discovered on the suspect's WhatsApp account, and he is believed to have been in regular communication with multiple individuals in Pakistan. The raid was supervised by Davangere Superintendent of Police H T Shekhar and involved a team led by Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Basavaraj.

Following his arrest, Suhail was transported to Tumakuru under heavy security, with teams from Davangere, Tumakuru and central intelligence units accompanying the convoy. Officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about the suspected terror network, his role within it, and the nature of his cross-border links. The authorities are continuing to probe whether others are involved and what the broader implications of his activities may be.