ISIS ‘module’ busted in Hyderabad, 5 arrested

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, June 29

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today busted a suspected ISIS terror module  during raids in Hyderabad.

The agency arrested five persons and detained six others, including a techie, for questioning. They were “planning” attacks in the city, sources said. A large quantity of ammunition and explosives, two 9 mm pistols, 25 cellphones and Rs 15 lakh in cash were recovered during the raids. 

The detained youths were allegedly in touch with their handlers in Syria. NIA Inspector-General Sanjeev Kumar Singh said they had carried out searches in 10 localities of the city.

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 The police identified five of the arrested youths as Mohammad Illiyas Yazdani, Mohammad Ibrahim, Habib Mohammad, Mohammad Irfan and Abdullah Bin Ahmad. An FIR was registered against them on June 22. Sources said members of the ISIS module were plotting to incite communal riots in the city. They had acquired weapons and improvised explosive devices and were believed to be in touch with other terror groups through the social media network.

In January this year, the NIA had arrested two suspected ISIS operatives in Hyderabad. A high alert has been sounded at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been alerted too.

The Telangana unit of the BJP charged the TRS government with "criminal neglect" in preventing Hyderabad from becoming a "safe haven" for terrorists.

BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said, “CM Chandrasekhar Rao’s soft approach and minority vote bank politics is taking a toll on the image of Hyderabad city.”