An encounter is currently underway between the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad and a suspected terrorist in Lucknow’s Thakurganj. The suspect reportedly opened fire at security personnel who were combing the area after receiving a tip-off about the presence of a few suspected terrorists. He has been identified as Saifullah, according to reports. He is currently holed up inside a building in the area. Civilians residing nearby have been evacuated from the spot.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is conducting an operation against a terror suspect in Thakurganj, old city area of the State capital Lucknow, on Tuesday. The Uttar Pradesh police has holed up suspect Mohammad Saifullah, who is believed to be an ISIS module, in a building here.

According to ADG (law and order), Daljeet Chaudhary, the terror suspect could have had a role Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger train blast which took place in Madhya Pradesh leaving nine persons injured on Tuesday morning.

The ADG said that UP police got a tip-off from an outside source about the presence of some terror suspects in Kanpur and Lucknow. After investigating, one suspect was arrested in Kanpur and the second - Saifullah -- was holed up in a house in Thakurganj of the state capital, he said.

The ATS sleuths had laid a siege in and around the entire Thakurganj area and the operation was being led by IG ATS himself. “We are suspecting the presence of only one ultra inside the building,” said Chaudhary but the people of the vicinity confirmed that Saifullah was inside the building with two or three of his associates.

The suspect, possibly a native of Lucknow, has confined himself in a room of the building and the ATS men were already inside the building. The ADG said that the suspected militant, who was retaliating to the firing by cops, was believed to have a huge weaponry.

“We are operating tactically ensuring minimum loss to either side and hope to arrest the suspect soon. We will interrogate him, thereafter, to find out his linkages and details of modules,” Chaudhary said.  Meanwhile, sources said that Uttar Pradesh DGP Javeed Ahmad had briefed the MHA officials about the presence of the terrorist and the ongoing anti-terror operation in the state capital.

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