Eight accused, arrested by NIA in connection with suspected IS links, being produced at Nampally criminal courts. -PTI

National Investigation Agency officials Tuesday made two key arrests in connection to the ISIS terror plot in Hyderabad. The two arrested were referred to as “the preacher” and “the fundraiser” of the group, five of whom have been arrested earlier.

Of the two, Ataullah Rehman, 30, from Bandlaguda, allegedly radicalised the group, introducing and preaching ISIS ideology to them. After motivating the group with propaganda material, he made them take a Bayah, or oath of allegiance, to ISIS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

An MA in English, Ataullah came into contact with Ibrahim Yazdani, one of the Yazdani brothers who are among the five arrested recently. After working as a TOEFL trainer, he later began taking Arabic class in Ibrahim’s house last year, according to NIA officials. The second person, Naimathullah Hussaini, a.k.a. Yaser, 40, from Mughalpura, allegedly contributed money to the cause and was the chief (emir) of the group, said NIA officials.