Law enforcement authorities in Bengaluru have foiled a major extremist plot with the arrest of a 25-year-old security guard linked to the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The suspect, identified as Asful Mallick, was taken into custody after investigators tracked his suspicious online engagements and discovered a plan targeting the Pakistani military. Mallick had been residing in the city's industrial zone while maintaining clandestine contacts with foreign extremists.
Arrest in Bommasandra and Background Details
According to an official statement issued by the police, Mallick was apprehended on August 11 from the Bommasandra Industrial Area. A native of Naupara village located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, he had relocated to Karnataka for employment. Since December 2025, Mallick had been working as a security guard for a private company situated in the Jigani Industrial Area, using his job as a cover while participating in radical online forums.
Motive: Deep Resentment Against Military Operations
Interrogations revealed that the suspect harbored intense hostility toward the Pakistani army. Mallick believed that military forces across the border were committing systematic atrocities against innocent civilians and religious institutions, including mosques, in Pakistan. Driven by this grievance, he gradually gravitated toward radical ideologies and aligned himself with the goals of TTP, a designated terrorist organization.
Afghan Connection, Passport, and Visa Application
Investigators established that Mallick established contact with an Afghan national named Imran Ahinder through Facebook. Under Ahinder's influence and guidance, Mallick initiated steps to travel to Afghanistan. The Afghan associate assisted him in securing a passport, after which Mallick submitted a formal visa application with the intent to travel abroad and carry out retaliatory attacks against the Pakistani military. However, he abruptly aborted the visa process at the last moment.
Digital Evidence Recovered and Ongoing Investigation
Upon seizing Mallick's mobile phone, forensic experts uncovered significant digital evidence detailing the revenge plot. The device contained multiple audio recordings and communications that pointed directly toward planned anti-military operations. Bengaluru police have intensified their investigation to determine whether Mallick had local accomplices or wider logistics support within India.
