NIA arrests 13 ISIS sympathisers in nationwide raids

Claims to have averted a major attack: suspects had formed a terror group which had similar ideologies to that of ISIS

In a nationwide swoop, NIA along with state police forces and central security agencies today claimed to have averted a major attack with the arrest of 13 'sympathisers' of banned ISIS terror group including their self-styled chief "Ameer".

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

Mumbai resident Munabeer Mushtaq 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.

The raids were conducted in collaboration with police forces in all the states.

All the arrested accused were being brought to the national capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that there was a proper structure of the terror outfit.

The NIA and central agency sleuths also recovered 42 mobile phones including eight from Ameer of the newly formed terror group which had allegedly received hawala money from overseas, the sources said.

The sleuths recovered explosive material, detonators, wires, batteries and hydrogen peroxide besides 'Jehadi literature', they said.