IS terror plot busted: Delhi court sends suspects to 12-day NIA custody

NIA IG Alok Mittal said that the group was going to carry out attacks soon and that is why agencies, which had the group under surveillance some three months ago, arrested them. “All the accused are in the age group of 20-30 years and members come from various professions — from civil engineer to welder, from undergraduate to autorickshaw driver. The group is led by Mufti Suhail, a religious preacher who hails from Amroha, but recently shifted to Seelampur in Delhi. He has motivated and directed the group at every step while carrying out its activities,” Mittal said.

NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal during a press conference at NIA office in New Delhi. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

The agency said raids were conducted to disrupt this activity. Searches were carried out at six places in Jafrabad, Seelampur, Delhi, and 11 places in Uttar Pradesh, which included six locations in Amroha, two in Lucknow, two in Hapur and one in Meerut. It is from Meerut that the accused are suspected of having procured arms and ammunition.

A huge cache of explosives, arms and ammunition were recovered in the searches, which includes a rudimentary rocket launcher which the suspects had fashioned out of scrap, the NIA said. The agency also recovered 25 kg of explosives, 112 alarm clocks and 134 SIM cards which indicates that the group was planning multiple blasts. The agency also said it had recovered material that suggested preparation of a suicide vest along with evidence of online chatter that suggested fidayeen attacks.

TV grab of recovery made by NIA during raids in Delhi and UP. (Express photo: Anil Sharma)

This is among the biggest arrests the NIA has made at one time in connection with its probe into activities associated with the Islamic State in the country. In 2015, NIA had arrested over 20 men from Hyderabad and elsewhere for allegedly being part of a module that planned to carry out terror attacks in the country.