NIA conducts fresh raids in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab in connection with ISIS module

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted fresh raids on eight places in western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in connection with its probe against an ISIS-inspired module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. The group was allegedly planning suicide attacks and serial blasts, targeting politicians and government installations, in the national capital and other parts of north India. The fresh raids come five days after the counter-terror probe agency arrested Muhammad Absar (24) from Hapur on January 12. The agency has arrested 12 people in this connection since December 26 last year.

The NIA is conducting raids with the aid of the state police and is also looking into the role of a foreign mastermind behind the new module. It said that searches were being conducted based on inputs from the interrogation of the people arrested for allegedly being part of 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam' module of the global terrorist group ISIS.

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The agency had earlier said it had seized a locally made rocket launcher, material for suicide vests and 112 alarm clocks to be used as timers besides recovering 25 kg of explosive material -- Potassium Nitrate, Ammonium Nitrate, and Sulphur.

The group had allegedly purchased remote-controlled cars and wireless doorbells to use their circuits in assembling remote-controlled improvised explosive devices.

Besides, the NIA had also seized steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, 3 laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature during the searches conducted earlier.

With PTI Inputs

HIGHLIGHTS

• NIA conducts raids in relation with its probe against an ISIS-inspired module.
• The fresh raids come 5 days after the NIA arrested Muhammad Absar.
• NIA has arrested 12 people in this connection since December 26 last year.