India On Alert After ISI-Backed Sleeper Cell Behind Bengaluru Cafe Blast Threatens Train Attacks

Indian intelligence agencies are on high alert after discovering a video featuring terrorist Farhatullah Ghori urging sleeper cells to attack trains across the country. Sources informed India Today that Ghori, a fugitive jihadist based in Pakistan, orchestrated the blast at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe through a sleeper cell with support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The video shows Ghori, who has been on Indian agencies' radar for years, calling on sleeper cells to derail India's railway network. He explains various methods of bomb blasts using pressure cookers. Additionally, Ghori discusses plans to target petroleum pipelines and Hindu leaders. He claims that the Indian government is weakening sleeper cells by targeting their properties via the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Rameshwaram Cafe Blast

At least 10 people were injured in the Rameshwaram blast on March 1. The NIA took over the case on March 3 and arrested two key suspects, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, on April 12. Taahaa was identified as the mastermind, while Shazib allegedly placed the IED at the cafe. They were apprehended from a lodge near Kolkata, where they were staying under assumed identities.

The two suspects are reportedly members of an Islamic State (IS) module based in Karnataka's Shivamogga. Shariq, another member of this module, carried out a blast in Mangaluru in November 2022. Farhatullah Ghori and his son-in-law Shahid Faisal have a strong network of sleeper cells in South India. Faisal was in contact with both suspects involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast and acted as their handler.

Who is Farhatullah Ghori?

Farhatullah Ghori, also known as Abu Sufiyan, Sardar Sahab, and Faru, has been linked to several high-profile attacks. These include the 2002 Akshardham Temple attack in Gujarat that killed over 30 people and injured 80 others, and the 2005 suicide attack on the Task Force office in Hyderabad.

Ghori is allegedly orchestrating online jihadist recruitment. Last year, Delhi Police said this after arresting three most-wanted terrorists from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. They revealed that Ghori was their handler.

A few months ago, Delhi Police named Ghori after several terrorists from the Pune-ISIS module were arrested nationwide. Officials claimed that ISI was running sleeper cells in India and recruiting young people for attacks.

"But we will return and shake the government," Ghori is heard saying in the video.

According to intelligence sources, this video was released on Telegram about three weeks ago.