D-company's plot to assassinate UP Shia Waqf Board chairperson foiled

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police claimed that it has arrested three persons believed to be the members of D-company from Bulahdshahr on Thursday. The police claimed that the accused were planning to assassinate Waseem Rizvi, Chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board.

According to the police, the accused were identified as Salim Ahmed Ansari (42), Abrar (36) and Arif (38), all are the natives of Bulandshahr. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said that during the past few months inputs were received by Special Cell that underworld criminal Chotta Shakeel, under the directions from fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, has been planning some subversive activities in India. "This information was further developed which revealed that one Salim from Bulandshahr had recently returned from Dubai and was in constant touch with Dubai-based underworld operatives," said the DCP.

He further added that the activities of Salim were monitored which revealed that Salim along with his associates Arif and others was planning the assassination of Waseem Rizvi, Chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board. The input was further developed and in mid of March 2018, this group had organised a meeting in Delhi for this purpose and from Delhi, they went to Lucknow to do the recce of the office of their target.

After conducting the recce, they informed their handlers in Dubai, who then directed them to procure arms and ammunition for the attack. They then contacted Abrar, who has recently been released from jail in an attempt-to-murder case, for procuring arms and ammunition through him. "We have recovered arms and ammunition and mobile phones used by criminals to communicate with their handlers in Dubai," said the DCP.

The police claimed that in December 2017, Salim went to Dubai on a tourist visa for three months. In Dubai, he met an associate of Chotta Shakeel who works for the D-company. He tasked Salim to carry out the assassination of Waseem Rizwi. "Arif was in dire need of money so he readily agreed to join Salim to carry out the crime," police said.