- By Akansha Pandey
- Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police set a trap under the pretext of getting a tent installed to arrest Asif, alias Arish, a resident of Machhmar village in the Rehad police station area. Asif's father, Altaf Shah, works in the tent business. Members of the Delhi Police team took him out of the village by pretending they needed his services for a tent installation. Once outside, they gathered information about Asif’s whereabouts over the phone and subsequently apprehended him near Khela Kheda village, close to the Bajpur police station in Uttarakhand.
Throughout Monday, intelligence and secret agencies questioned his family members. The Delhi Police Special Team had arrested 22-year-old Asif on Sunday afternoon. It is alleged that he was in contact with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti. He is accused of conducting reconnaissance in Gurdaspur, Punjab, where he was allegedly instructed to throw a grenade. The police captured Asif on Sunday following the arrest of two of his associates.
How The Operation Unfolded
After Asif's name surfaced, the Delhi Special Team reached Machhmar village in three vehicles at 1:00 pm on Sunday. The team parked two vehicles outside the village, while some officers in plain clothes arrived at Asif's house in one vehicle. At the time, Asif had gone to the Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand with some villagers to purchase grain. The team told Altaf that there was a wedding in their family and they needed a tent installed a short distance from the village.
Altaf replied that he no longer installs tents personally, but his younger son Faisal works at a tent shop in Bajpur. The team urged Altaf to inspect the location himself and call his son later. Altaf got into the car with the team and was driven out of the village. There, the team questioned him about Asif. Altaf revealed that Asif had gone to Bajpur. The police spoke to Asif using Altaf's mobile phone and subsequently placed his number on surveillance. Taking Altaf along, the team reached Kela Kheda village in the Bajpur area and apprehended Asif. Altaf was later dropped off at the Rehad police station.
Threats To Frame Him In Terror Incident
Asif's father claims his son is innocent. He states that Shahzad Bhatti and Vikas Prajapati were threatening to frame Asif after he refused their instructions to throw a hand grenade. He alleged that upon his refusal, both men called via Instagram and threatened to implicate him in a terrorist incident.