NIA busts ISIS cell; 11 in custody

National Investigation Agency officials, with the help of the Hyderabad police, on Wednesday busted an “ISIS terror module” and took 11 suspects into custody. Sources said that they were allegedly planning terror strikes in Hyderabad and other parts of the country either using bombs or by gunning down people in crowded places.

The prime targets for the ISIS module in Hyderabad have been identified as Inorbit Mall and the IT zone in Madhapur. During the raid, which lasted several hours, NIA officials seized target boards used for shooting practice, two pistols, an air gun, explosive substances (urea, acids and hydrogen peroxide) and other material used for making IEDs, besides Rs 15 lakh in cash.

Though the arrested suspects claimed that the money had been earned by them in their trade, investigators suspect that ISIS handlers might have sent the cash via the hawala route.

The NIA has arrested five of the 11 suspects after booking cases against them under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and relevant sections of the IPC for waging war against India. The suspects were apparently in touch with key ISIS recruiter Shafi Armar, a former Indian Mujahideen operative based in Syria, and took orders from him, police sources said.