NIA raids 19 locations, arrests 8 ISIS operatives, seizes explosive materials

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided 19 locations across four states and arrested eight operatives of the Ballari module of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Minaz alias Md. Sulaiman, who was planning to carry out terror attacks was also arrested in the raid.

Other arrested are Syed Sameer from Ballari; Anas Iqbal Shaikh from Mumbai; Mohammad Muniruddin, Syid Samiullah alias Sami, Md Muzammil from Bengaluru; Shayan Rahman alias Hussain from Delhi; and Md Shahbaz alias Zulfikar alias Guddu from Jamshedpur.

Nia Foils ISIS Ballari Module’s Plans to Trigger IED Blasts
Arrests 8 Terror Operatives, including Module Head, in Raids Across 4 States, Seizes Explosive Raw Materials, Weapons, Documents Exposing Terror Plans, etc. pic.twitter.com/jluje0B91b

— NIA India (@NIA_India) December 18, 2023

Explosive raw materials recovered 

The central agency reported that explosive raw materials, such as sulphur, potassium nitrate, charcoal, sharp-edged weapons, gunpowder, sugar and ethanol, unaccounted cash and incriminating documents, along with smartphones and other digital devices were also recovered during the raid. 

The agency registered an FIR against several members of the group after the search operations. The officials said that the premises connected with several suspected members were also raided.

The probe agency said that eight ISIS agents were arrested during the raids who were actively involved in promoting terror and terror-related acts and activities of ISIS. They also said that they were operating under the leadership of Minaz.

The media reports reported that the terror group was engaged in anti-India activities.

The raids came days after, in a case involving the radicalization of detainees by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, the NIA searched several sites in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The NIA teams seized various incriminating documents, digital devices, and cash amounting to ₹7.3 lakh from the premises of Mohammed Umar, Tanveer Ahmed, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, and Mohammed Farooq, as well as absconder Junaid Ahmed who are connected with two other suspects.