Madrasa preacher-led group had BJP, RSS leaders on hitlist: 10 key facts about NIA raids

The National Investigation Agency’s Wednesday raids have revealed some sensational facts that raise serious security concerns. After the Wednesday crackdown across 17 locations in Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the NIA arrested 10 people including a woman for allegedly planning ISIS-style attacks across country. NIA inspector general Alok Mittal told reporters that searches were carried out in Delhi's Seelampur locality, UP's Lucknow, Amroha and Hapur districts where a huge quantity of explosives, a country-made rocket launcher, 100 mobiles and 134 SIM cards and 112 alarm clocks were recovered. The group identified as ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’ was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of their suspicious activities. 

Here are some of the key facts the NIA raids that we know so far:

1: ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’ preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi/NCR, the NIA said. According to ‘The Hindustan Times’ report, many RSS and BJP leaders were on its hitlist. 

2: A 29-year-old Mufti of a madrasa in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha has been identified as the mastermind of the group. Mufti Mohd Suhail and his nine associates mobilized funds. The ISIS-style module had procured weapons, ammunition and explosive material to prepare IED’s and bombs and they had plans to carry out fidayeen attacks as early as New Year’s Eve.

3: The seized items include 25 kg of explosive material, such as Potassium Nitrate, Ammonium Nitrate, Sulphur, Sugar material paste, 12 pistols, 150 rounds of live ammunition, 1 country- made rocket launcher, 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, 3 laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature and a cash amount of Rs 7.5 lakhs approximately. 

4: Apart from the Amroha Mufti an Imam has also been arrested. The group also includes a final year Delhi University student. Zubair Malik resident of Jaffrabad was instrumental in procuring batteries, connectors, SIM cards on fake documents and mobilising funds for buying bomb -making material.

5: The group also had a Civil Engineering student from the Amity University in Noida. Anas Yunus,24, was instrumental in procuring electrical items, alarm clocks and batteries etc. 

6: A case under sections 120B, 121, 121A, 122 of IPC, Sections 4 & 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and sections 17,18,18 B, 20,38 and 39 of the UA(P) Act against the mastermind of the module.

7: The NIA also said that the handler of the group was based in Afghanistan. The group was communicating on WhatsApp and Telegram. 

8: A woman and her son from Lucknow have also been arrested for arranging funds for the group.

9: The NIA said that apart from these 10 accused, some other suspects were also being examined. 

10: The arrested accused would be produced before the NIA Special Court today.