ISIS Maharashtra module case: NIA makes sixth arrest in Bhiwandi

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On Saturday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested one person from Bhiwandi for allegedly being part of a module of the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The sixth accused as been identified as - Aakif Ateeque Nachan.

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"He was allegedly involved in the "fabrication and testing" of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for commission of terrorist acts and arranging a hideout for two other terror operatives," the NIA said in a press release.

Last month, the NIA had arrested Tabish Nasser Siddiqui from Mumbai, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh alias Abu Nusaiba from Pune, Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala from Thane, and Dr Adnan Sarkar from Kondhwa, Pune.

"Aakif was found actively involved in promotion of terror-related activities of the ISIS in collaboration with Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki and Abdul Kadir Pathan (all arrested recently by Pune unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad) along with some other suspects," the agency said.

"The NIA nabbed Aakif after a series of raids in Bhiwandi tehsil of Thane," the release further added.

Several incriminating materials, such as electronic gadgets and documents, were seized during the raids.

"Aakif had also facilitated the stay of Imran and Yunus at a house in Kondhwa, Pune, and organised and participated in bomb-making workshops in Kondhwa in 2022," the NIA said.

"He had planned "to commit terrorist acts to disturb the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, and wage a war against the Government of India," the release said.

(with inputs from PTI)