To foil the anti-terrorist conspiracy of Bellary module of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) against India, NIA on Monday morning raided 19 places in four states including Jamshedpur, Bokaro of Jharkhand. In these, raids were also conducted in Amravati, Mumbai and Pune of Maharashtra, Bellary and Bengaluru of Karnataka and Delhi. During this period, eight agents associated with Bellary module were arrested. In this, Mohammad Shahbaz alias Zulfikar alias Guddu from Jamshedpur, module leader Minaj alias Mohammad Suleman and Syed Sameer from Bellary, Karnataka were caught. Apart from this, Anas Iqbal Shaikh from Mumbai, Mohammad Muniruddin, Syed Samiullah alias Sami, Mohammad Muzammil from Bengaluru and Shayan Rehman alias Hussain from Delhi were arrested. Apart from Jharkhand Police, Karnataka Police, Maharashtra Police and Delhi Police also cooperated in this action of NIA. According to the NIA, the eight agents arrested during the raid were involved in actively promoting ISIS terror and terror related acts and activities. Bellary module was headed by Minaj alias Mohammad Suleman. NIA had registered a case against the ISIS-inspired Bellary module on 14 December 2023. Since then she was working closely with the state police and central agencies to track and arrest the members of this module. The anti-terrorism agency is taking action on a large scale.
Explosive material recovered during raid
In the raid, explosive raw materials like sulphur, potassium nitrate, charcoal, gun powder, sugar and ethanol, sharp edged weapons, unaccounted cash and incriminating documents along with smartphones and other digital devices were also seized. According to preliminary investigation, the accused had planned to use explosive raw material to manufacture the IED. It was to be used to carry out terrorist acts. It is being told that the NIA team was interrogating two people from Jamshedpur and one from Bokaro. After the involvement of one person was proved, he was arrested.
What came to light in NIA investigation
NIA investigation has also revealed that the accused were in contact with each other through encrypted apps while following the path of violent jihad, caliphate etc. of ISIS. They were specifically targeting college students for the purpose of recruitment into ISIS. Besides, documents related to recruitment of Mujahideen for the purpose of Jihad were also being circulated.