Abdul Rahman, 20, an undertrial accused of planning an attack on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, was killed inside Haryana’s Neemka Jail on Sunday night around 8 PM. Rahman was reportedly attacked by fellow inmate Arun Chaudhary, a Kashmiri youth recently transferred from Jammu and Kashmir. He succumbed to head injuries after being struck with a sharp-edged object, according to jail authorities.
Officials stated that Rahman and Chaudhary were lodged in the same cell when the attack occurred. Abdul Rahman was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police and jail authorities have launched a full investigation, including questioning of inmates and staff, and a judicial inquiry has been ordered. Post-mortem procedures are underway, and Rahman’s family has been informed.
Background: Arrest and Terror Links:
Abdul Rahman, a resident of Milkipur in Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on March 2, 2025, near Pali village in Faridabad during a joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Haryana Special Task Force (STF), and central intelligence agencies. Authorities recovered two live hand grenades, detonators, and digital devices containing extremist material and videos. The grenades were reportedly sourced through handlers linked to Pakistan’s ISI via networks associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
Investigations revealed that Abdul Rahman had been living in Faridabad under a fake identity, working as an autorickshaw driver and at a small eatery, while staying in a secluded tubewell house on the outskirts of the city. He was carrying out reconnaissance of sensitive locations, including the Ram Temple and administrative buildings in Uttar Pradesh. Rahman was linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and other terror networks. He was radicalized via social media, initially on TikTok and later on Instagram, receiving ideological training and instructions for extremist activities. Authorities confirmed he had been preparing to travel to Ayodhya on April 4, 2026, for the planned attack.
Security and Investigation Measures:
Following Rahman’s arrest, central and state intelligence agencies launched a coordinated operation to identify local facilitators, funding channels, and logistical support linked to the terror module. The case has been treated as a major national security threat, with Abdul Rahman under high surveillance in judicial custody.
After his killing, the police registered an FIR and initiated a judicial inquiry. Jail security protocols are being reviewed, and all staff and inmates are being questioned. Arun Chaudhary, who faces multiple prior criminal cases, remains in custody and is being interrogated. Authorities are also verifying social media posts linked to the Rohit Godara gang, specifically one allegedly shared by Mahendra Delana, which praised Chaudhary for the killing and claimed responsibility on behalf of the gang, warning others involved in anti-national activities.
Security agencies believe death of Abdul Rahman neutralizes a significant threat to Ayodhya, but investigations continue to dismantle the terror network, including identifying and apprehending associates, facilitators, and handlers. Officials emphasized that measures are being tightened to prevent similar incidents in high-risk prisons.
