NIA busts suspected IS terror module in Hyderabad; 5 arrested, 6 detained

Hyderabad: A suspected terror plot has been uncovered in Hyderabad, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Hyderabad police busted an Islamic State cell. Raids were conducted in Moghalpura and Bhawaninagar areas of Hyderabad.

At least five youth were arrested and six others including a techie were detained for questioning from several areas in the old quarters of the IT-city. NIA IG Sanjeev Kumar said that the agency has conducted searches at around 10 locations.

"We have arrested five accused persons so far. Questioning and verification of the role of remaining six suspects are going on," an NIA statement said.

The names of people arrested and detained are: Mohammed Iliyas Yazdani, Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, Habeeb Mohammed, Mohammed Irfan alias Yaqais Irfan, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias Fahad, Syed Naimath Ullah Hussaini alias Yaser Naimathullah, Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan alias Rizwan, Mohd Ataullah Rahman, Abdul alias Al Jeelani Abdul Qader Mohsin Mahmood, A M Azhar and Mohammed Arbaz Ahmed.

NIA sources said that they had information that 5 of the 11 were involved in terrorist activities. An FIR was registered against them on June 22. On the basis of the FIR, NIA conducted these searches during which the people were detained.

Read: NIA raids in Hyderabad: BJP questions TRS government's 'criminal neglect'

The material seized include weapons and ammunition, urea, acids, hydrogen peroxide and some other chemicals, electronic gadgets and other incriminating material. Among the seized arms, ammunitions and chemicals are: two pistols and one airgun and pellets, Rs 15 lakh cash, urea, some other unidentified chemicals, 23 mobile phone, three laptop, and one tab.

The raids come at a time when parts of the city are virtually under siege, with advocates and lawyers intensifying a strike that has been on for over three weeks. Prohibitory orders are in place and searches are still going on.

According to official sources, searches are reportedly being conducted in Bengaluru as well, from where NIA had arrested alleged ISIS suspects earlier this year. "This is unusual that during the holy month of Ramzan, Daesh (ISIS) is planning and executing terror strikes across the world including India," said an officer on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, high alert has been issued at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Central Industrial Security Force and Rapid Action Force personnel are on alert.

In January this year, 14 suspected ISIS sympathisers were picked up from across the country in an anti-terror operation by the NIA. Two of them were arrested in Hyderabad.

The fresh operations by the NIA comes in wake of suspected Islamic State terrorists attacked Turkey's Ataturk airport in Istanbul on Wednesday, killing at least 41 people and wounding 239.

Meanwhile, the raids also gave the BJP ammunition to attack the Telangana government and accused it of displaying "criminal neglect" in preventing Hyderabad from becoming a "safe haven" for terror elements.

"NIA busted an ISIS module in Hyderabad and raids are still underway. BJP questions TS (Telangana State) government on its criminal neglect in preventing Hyderabad and old city from becoming safe havens for terrorists," BJP state unit spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said in a statement.