New ISIS module traced, NIA raids 16 places in Delhi, UP, arrests 5

Five people allegedly linked to a new ISIS module have been arrested in Amroha in Uttar Pradesh in a joint operation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and UP’s anti-terror squad (ATS).

The raids were conducted on the basis of information regarding a new ISIS module named ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’.

Inspector General of Police of UP ATS Asim Arun confirmed that five people linked to a terror group have been arrested. He said one person has been arrested from a madrasa in Amroha while four others were arrested from other places. At least 10 other people are reported to have been detained for questioning by the NIA and the UP ATS.

Raids were also conducted in Delhi’s Seelampur area.

Another official associated with the operation said the arrested people are members of ISIS module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam.

The official also confirmed the recovery of explosive materials from the arrested people.

Visuals from the scene: 

Today’s raids come a week after the NIA raided the houses of seven persons in various parts of Tamil Nadu for their alleged links with the ISIS. The seven men had been arrested subsequently for conspiring to murder the leaders of some Hindu outfits.

For the last few years, the intelligence officials have been tracking the growing influence of the Islamic State in India and are keeping a close watch on those being radicalised by its ideology.

In December 2017, a report by the ministry of home affairs had said that the NIA had arrested as many as 103 accused in cases against ISIS cadres, the maximum number of people being from UTtar Pradesh.

Of the 103 arrests in connection with ISIS sympathisers or modules, 17 arrests had been from Uttar Pradesh.

Intelligence agencies have in the past traced and busted small IS cells in Kashmir as well as in southern states such as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

On March 7, 2017, in what is the first recorded strike by an IS module in India, the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train had been rocked by a powerful blast that had left 8 people injured.

The NIA is expected to hold a press conference later in the day.