NIA Arrests: ‘Aim of New ISIS-Inspired Module Was to Target Security Installations, VIPs; Gang Leader a UP Native’

Large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition, including a country made rocket launcher, have been recovered so far.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday briefed the press about the searches conducted in connection with the new ISIS-link module. NIA IG said, “We conducted searches at 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a new ISIS-inspired module styled as ‘Harkat ul Harb e Islam’ which was in an advanced stage of carrying out a series of blasts.” (Also read: NIA Conducts Raids at JK Businessman’s House)

All arrested accused would be produced before NIA special court on Thursday. He said the searches were conducted in Delhi’s Seelampur and UP’s Amroha, Hapur, Meerut and Lucknow. “Large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition, including a country made rocket launcher, have been recovered so far.”

About the other items recovered, the IG said, “Total amount of Rs 7.5 lakh recovered. Also, nearly 100 mobile phone, 135 SIM cards, laptops and memory were seized. Some of the searches are still underway. After an initial interrogation of the 16 suspects, we have decided to arrest 10 accused.”

Earlier reports had said that the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) had arrested five people in connection with ‘Harkat ul Harb e Islam’. The UP ATS has confirmed that it can conduct a joint operation with NIA in Amroha.

The NIA IG said, “The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque.”

The IG also talked about the level of preparedness. He said, “It suggests that their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen (suicide) attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module. They were in touch with a foreign agent. The identities are yet to be established.”

As to their probable targets, the NIA said, “Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security intallations.”