The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a series of raids across four states, including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals linked to ISIS based in Karnataka's Ballari.
The operation successfully foiled plans to trigger IED blasts, as reported by the agency following the morning raids conducted at 19 locations in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka.
Recovered during these raids were caches of explosive materials like sulphur, potassium nitrate, and gunpowder, along with weaponry, cash, and digital devices. Among those apprehended was Minaz, known as Mohammed Sulaiman, the leader of the Ballari module. The joint operation was conducted by the NIA, local police in Ballari and Bengaluru, and authorities in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, and Jharkhand's Bokaro.
These individuals, communicating via instant messaging apps, had strategised to employ the recovered explosives to create improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for undisclosed terror activities. Additionally, their recruitment tactics allegedly targeted college students for radicalisation.
The NIA initiated the case against the Ballari module last week and has since collaborated closely with state police and central agencies in a concerted effort to track and detain the suspects.
This follows a series of prior raids wherein the NIA raided over 40 locations in Maharashtra, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals. Among them was a module leader administering oaths of allegiance to new recruits. Simultaneous raids in Bengaluru, related to Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked radicalisation, were conducted.
Furthermore, operations spanned across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, recovering military attire, weaponry, currency, jewellery, and other incriminating evidence. The arrested suspects were allegedly "cadres and sympathisers of PLFI (People's Liberation Front of India, a banned group)" involved in conspiracy and terror-related activities.
The investigation revealed PLFI cadres extorting funds from coal traders and businessmen across Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha to finance their alleged terror initiatives.