NIA claims arrest of 14 IS sympathisers nationwide

The arrest comes days after security agencies busted a terror plot to target Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar & malls in Delhi-NCR

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with state police forces and central security agencies, on Friday claimed to have averted a major attack with the arrest of 14 sympathisers of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, including their self-styled chief “Ameer”.

The raids were carried out simultaneously in four states — Karnataka, Hyderabad, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh — where 13 people had formed ‘Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind’, a terror group which had similar ideologies that of the IS.

Munabeer Mushtaq, a Mumbai resident, had allegedly designated himself as “Ameer” of the organisation, which was tasked to carry out blasts at various installations in the country, besides attacking some foreigners, home ministry sources said.

Mushtaq was arrested in a joint operation by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and the NIA from Mumbra, near Mumbai.

Friday’s arrest comes days after security agencies busted a terror plot to target the Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar and malls in Delhi-National Capital Region.

A senior police official said three youths from Malwani in north Mumbai were feared to have left for Syria to join the IS in the past few months. In 2014, too, three youth from the area had left for Syria. Only one of them managed to return.

He said the security would be stepped up ahead of the Republic Day.