National Investigation Agency hunts source of ammo procured by ISIS module

In an effort to trace the source of arms and ammunition and explosive materials procured by the 10 arrested alleged members of an ISIS-inspired module, Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam (War for the cause of Islam), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is questioning dozens of people across two states -- Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and conducting fresh searches.

The agency wants to know how these men procured the huge amount of explosives and country-made arms.

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, a knife, a sword, ISIS-related literature and a cash amount of Rs. 7.5 lakh approximately.

The agency had arrested 10 Islamic State-inspired module members, including the group head Mufti Suhail for planning terror attacks targeting important personalities and security establishments as well as crowded places in the National Capital Region.

The arrested accused are NIA custody's for 12 days as the agency tries to unearth the conspiracy.

Those arrested include Suhail (29), Anas Yunus (24), Rashid Zafar Raq (23), Saeed (28), Saeed's brother Raees Ahmad, Zubair Malik (20), Zubair's brother Zaid (22), Saqib Iftekar (26), Mohammed Irshad (in his 20s) and Mohammed Azam (35).

The agency made the arrests after conducting searches at 17 locations across Lucknow, Hapur, Amroha, Seelampur, Meerut and Jafrabad in connection with its probe.