ISI inspired Lashkar’s temple attack plot in Delhi foiled, handler traced to Bangladesh.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Feb 23, 2026:: A major terror conspiracy allegedly aimed at targeting Hindu temples in the national capital has been foiled, with the arrest of eight suspected operatives linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Investigators say the module was operating under the guidance of a Bangladesh-based handler believed to have close ties with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Temple Reconnaissance in Delhi

According to the Delhi Police, the accused had carried out detailed reconnaissance of multiple temples across Delhi. Investigators recovered videos of prominent temple sites from the mobile phones of those arrested, indicating advance surveillance and planning.

Security has since been heightened around religious locations, particularly in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, which officials believe was among the primary targets. The area is home to several prominent temples and attracts heavy footfall, making it a sensitive security zone.

Bangladesh-Based Handler and Cross-Border Links

Sources in the investigation have identified Shabbir Ahmed Lone, a Kashmiri terrorist currently believed to be based in Bangladesh, as the key handler coordinating the alleged plot. Reconnaissance footage of key temple locations was reportedly transmitted to Lone for further instructions.

Officials allege that Lone has longstanding ties with Lashkar’s top leadership, including 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and senior commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Investigators claim Lone has been in contact with the group’s leadership since at least 2007 and operates under ISI directives.

According to agencies, Lone received terror training in Pakistan and entered India in 2007 allegedly for a suicide mission. He was arrested and lodged in Delhi’s high-security Tihar Jail before securing bail. Authorities say he later resurfaced in Bangladesh, where he is suspected of reviving Lashkar operations and recruiting Bangladeshi nationals to execute attacks in India while attempting to mask Pakistan’s direct involvement.

Anti-National Posters as Operational Test

Investigators believe the module tested its operational readiness by pasting anti-national posters at around 10 sensitive locations in Delhi, including near the Supreme Court of India and Janpath Metro Station. Officials suspect that these activities were not only propaganda exercises but also opportunities to assess security arrangements around high-value targets, including temples.

Agencies now believe that the same network used these movements to survey temple security, reinforcing suspicions that religious sites were the intended targets.

Arrests Across States

Of the eight suspects, six — identified as Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Shabat, Umar, Mohammad Litan, Mohammad Shahid, and Mohammed Ujjal — were arrested from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district. The remaining two were apprehended in West Bengal.

Police believe the group functioned as a Bangladesh-linked Lashkar module operating within India under civilian cover. Investigators are probing their travel history, communication records, and financial transactions to uncover the broader network and potential local facilitators.

Ongoing Investigation

Officials say the alleged conspiracy indicates a cross-border command structure spanning Pakistan and Bangladesh, with operational execution planned inside India. Security agencies are continuing their investigation to determine whether additional targets were surveyed and if more operatives remain at large.

Authorities have assured that preventive measures have been strengthened at sensitive religious and public sites across the capital, while central and state agencies coordinate to dismantle any residual elements of the suspected network.