In a remarkable series of actions against terrorist activities, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) successfully dismantled 29 IS modules in 2023, safeguarding Bharat against potential Islamist terrorist threats.

Listed of the IS modules busted by NIA nationwide

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 19 locations, arresting eight operatives of the banned terrorist outfit ISIS’s Ballari module, including leader Minaz. The arrests, spanning Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi, thwarted plans for terror acts and IED blasts. The seized materials included explosives, cash, and incriminating documents. The operatives were in touch through encrypted apps, targeting college students for recruitment and circulating documents for Jihad. The NIA registered the case on December 14.

• In a shocking revelation, the NIA raided Al-Sham, an ISIS territory near Mumbai, uncovering a sinister plot led by terrorist Saquib Nachan. The operation in Padgha Borivali resulted in arrests, exposing plans for over 40 drone attacks in Mumbai. Nachan, with a history of terrorism, aimed to unite SIMI, Indian Mujahideen, and ISIS, connecting cases in Hazaribagh, UP, and Maharashtra.

• The NIA conducted raids at 43 locations in Maharashtra and one in Karnataka, detaining at least 15 individuals in an ongoing investigation into an ISIS terror module conspiracy. Among those detained are Firoz Kuwar, Hasib Mulla, Musab Mulla, Rehan Suse, Farhan Suse, Adil Khot, Mukhlis Nachan, Raphail Nachan, Razeel Nachan, Shakib Nachan, Saif Atiq Nachan, Yahya Khot, Shakub Divkar, and Kasif Belare. The raids revealed a deeper international conspiracy with ISIS links, involving a network preparing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for potential terror acts in India.

• The NIA filed a charge sheet against five individuals linked to the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), an Afghan terrorist group affiliated with ISIS. The accused, including Ubaid Nasir Mir, were planning to illegally travel from Gujarat to Afghanistan via Iran for training and terrorist activities. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gujarat arrested them based on credible information. The investigation revealed their involvement in recruiting Muslim youth, spreading extremist ideology on social media, and collecting funds for ISKP. Two key individuals, believed to be handlers, are currently absconding in Afghanistan and Iran.

• On November 11, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested seven members of the ISIS Aligarh module, including individuals connected to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The arrests were made in UP, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, raising concerns about potential radicalization within the university. The operation exposes links between the Pune and AMU ISIS modules, emphasizing the intricate network with an aim to threaten India’s security.

• Wajihuddin Ali Khan, the self-declared caliph of the Islamic State (ISIS) in India, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS). Khan is identified as the ‘Indian Amir’ of ISIS and is linked to terror modules in Pune, Aligarh, and Delhi. The UP ATS secured a 10-day remand in November for him as part of their investigation into his role in orchestrating attacks in collaboration with other ISIS modules.

• The NIA filed a chargesheet against seven terrorists from the Pune ISIS module, revealing their plans to attack non-Muslims, discussing the killing of ‘Kafirs,’ and aiming to establish Sharia in India. The accused were making Muslim youths pledge allegiance to ISIS. The chargesheet includes witness statements, with one witness describing how the arrested individuals added him to a WhatsApp group to propagate ISIS ideology and encourage allegiance pledges.

• On October 22, 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Imran Khan in Theni on charges of human trafficking and recruiting individuals for terrorist organizations, including ISIS. Imran Khan, also known as Hama Najerbheeden, has been evading authorities since June 2021. The arrest followed years of NIA investigation, revealing Khan’s role in recruiting for ISIS and facilitating training abroad.

• In a significant development, the Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested Shahnawaz, also known as Shafi Uzzama, a wanted terrorist on the NIA’s list. Other members of the module were also detained, with plans to carry out terror incidents in North India under foreign-based handlers’ instructions. The police recovered incriminating materials, including items suspected of making improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Shahnawaz, an engineer residing in Delhi, had escaped police custody in Pune and was wanted in connection with the Pune IS case, leading to a Rs 3 lakh reward by the NIA.

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Zaheer Turki from Mannarkkad, Palakkad, Kerala, for his involvement with the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS). Turki is associated with Seyid Nabeel Ahammed, the leader of an ISIS module in Thrissur district. Ahammed was arrested in Chennai while attempting to flee to Nepal. The NIA has gathered digital evidence linking Turki to terrorist activities, including aiding Ahammed in hiding, arranging fake SIM cards, and planning attacks on Hindu temples. The investigation aims to uncover the extent of ISIS penetration in Kerala.

• ISIS terrorist Siyed Nabeel Ahammed, leader of a Thrissur-based module in Kerala, was arrested by the NIA’s Fugitive Tracking Team in Chennai while attempting to escape to Nepal. The group planned terrorist attacks in Thrissur and nearby districts. Ahammed, connected to a murder case in Kochi, was found with forged travel documents and seized digital devices. The NIA discovered links to robbery, gold smuggling, and recruitment through a Telegram group called ‘Pet Lovers.’ Ahammed has been remanded until September 12.

• The NIA conducted raids in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, seizing digital devices, documents, Rs 60 lakh, and $18,200 in an operation against ISIS’s radicalization and recruitment campaign. Searches were carried out at 31 locations, revealing incriminating materials and promoting radicalization through Arabic classes and online platforms. The investigation linked individuals to the ISIS-inspired ‘Khilafat’ ideology, aiming to disrupt peace and communal harmony, with a connection to a previous terrorist act in the Coimbatore car bomb blast case.

• The NIA conducted raids in Tamil Nadu, leading to the arrest of a youth in Rameswaram on September 1, 2023. The individual was apprehended for generating funds for Tehreek-e-Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the Indian sub-continent. The operation aimed to dismantle terror networks associated with sleeper cells and modules, particularly those linked to the banned group Popular Front of India (PFI). Concerns about the regrouping of former PFI activists and the potential release of a notorious terrorist, S.A. Basha, raised fears of heightened security threats in Tamil Nadu.

• The NIA arrested two individuals, Mohammad Yunus Saki and Imran Khan (alias Yusuf), both residents of Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh (MP). They are key figures in the 2022 Chittorgarh terror case involving explosives seized in Rajasthan. The accused are associated with the ISIS-inspired terrorist outfit “SUFA.”

• The NIA arrested Kasif Khan, the fourth accused in the IS Jabalpur module case. Kasif, a resident of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, was inspired by the ideology of the banned terrorist organization IS. Working with three associates, Syed Mamoor Ali, Mohammad Adil Khan, and Mohammad Shahid, who were arrested in May, Kasif was involved in organizing programs to brainwash and radicalize Muslim youth for IS. The NIA uncovered their plans for violent terror attacks in India with the aim of establishing an Islamic State.

• On August 11, 2023, the NIA arrested Shamil Nachan from Thane in connection with the Pune ISIS module case. The arrest is related to his active involvement in promoting terrorist activities for the designated foreign terrorist organization. Shamil Nachan was found to be fabricating, training, and testing Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) for potential terrorist acts. This marks the sixth arrest in the ongoing investigation.

• The NIA conducted raids in Bhopal related to a terror case involving the Hizb-ut-Tahrir module. Several suspects were detained for questioning, and raids were prompted by information provided by an accused brought from Chhattisgarh. Another arrest was made in the Patna Phulwari Sharif terror module case, with Shahid Reza taken into custody in Bihar. The NIA has arrested a total of 16 individuals in the case, revealing a conspiracy to disturb peace and communal harmony through the banned organization Popular Front of India (PFI). Weapons and incriminating articles were seized in the raids.

• The NIA arrested a doctor in Pune’s Kindhwa area for recruiting members for the terrorist organization ISIS. The accused, residing in Pune for many years, was involved in recruitment activities. Adnan Ali Sarkar, aged 43, was arrested in Maharashtra for promoting the violent activities of ISIS in the state. This marks a total of five individuals arrested in connection with the Maharashtra ISIS module case.

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced the thwarting of a terror plot by busting an ISIS module in Kerala on July 20, 2023. The module planned to attack places of worship and leaders of specific communities. NIA, in collaboration with the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Kerala Police, conducted raids in Thrissur and Palakkad districts, resulting in one arrest and the disruption of the ISIS module’s activities.

•  The arrest of a Malayali terrorist named Ashif, captured by the NIA for allegedly planning significant robberies to fund the Islamic State (ISIS). Ashif, a native of Thrissur district, was apprehended in the Sathyamangalam forest in Tamil Nadu (TN). The arrest is part of NIA’s efforts to address terrorism-related activities in the region.

• The NIA filed a charge sheet against two ISIS members, Mohammad Saddam and Abdul Rakib Qureshi, in the ISIS STF (Special Task Force) Kolkata case. They were arrested for conspiring against the country, collecting arms, recruiting youth, and promoting ISIS activities in India and abroad. The charge sheet includes various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the IPC (Indian Penal Code). The investigation revealed their association with ISIS, involvement in recruitment, and use of encrypted platforms for communication.

• The NIA has arrested four individuals linked to an ISIS terror module in Maharashtra. The accused, identified as Tabish Nasser Siddiqui, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh, Sharjeel Shaikh, and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, were involved in training and recruiting youth for the fabrication and use of IEDs and weapons. NIA raids uncovered incriminating materials, including electronic gadgets and documents, exposing strong linkages with ISIS. The accused had conspired to carry out terror activities, aiming to breach India’s unity, integrity, and security. This follows earlier NIA actions against ISIS modules in Bihar, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

• The NIA filed an additional charge sheet in the Shivamogga ISIS case, revealing that the accused conducted a trial IED blast, reconnaissance of multiple locations, and arson of properties as part of an ISIS conspiracy in Karnataka. The NIA stated that the accused were instructed by their ISIS handler to pursue robotics courses to enhance their skills for future terrorist attacks aligned with the Islamic State agenda for India.

• The NIA busted an ISIS-linked terror module in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, conducting 13 raids on May 26-27. Three individuals—Syed Mamoor Ali, Mohammad Adil Khan, and Mohammad Shahid—were arrested and accused of promoting ISIS propaganda through social media (SM) and on-ground activities to carry out terrorist activities at the behest of ISIS. Sharp weapons, prohibited bore ammunition, incriminating documents, and digital devices were seized during the raids.

• A special NIA court in Jaipur sentenced Mohammed Sirajuddin alias Siraj to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for promoting the ideology of the Islamic State. The court found him guilty under various sections, including Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Siraj, a resident of Gulbarga in Karnataka, was convicted for inciting others on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram to join ISIS and carry out terror activities in India. The NIA revealed that Siraj organized online discussions and meetings among active ISIS operatives to plan and execute acts of violence and terrorism.

• The arrested individuals, Mohammad Ari and Hamraz Worshid Shaikh were involved in activities related to the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Mohammad Ari, a resident of Karnataka, was planning to join ISIS and had connections with foreign-based online handlers. The NIA conducted raids in Bengaluru and Thane, leading to the arrest of these terror suspects who were actively involved in planning to leave for Afghanistan to further their terrorist activities.

• The NIA filed a chargesheet against Mohsin Ahmad in a case related to an ISIS conspiracy for the propagation of the terrorist organization’s ideology and fundraising. Mohsin Ahmad is accused of raising funds for ISIS and sending them to Syria-based ISIS handlers through cryptocurrency channels. The case was registered by NIA on June 25, 2022, and the chargesheet has been filed before Delhi’s Patiala House Courts.

• Two ISIS activists, Mohammad Saddam and Syed Ahmed, were arrested in West Bengal’s Howrah district, and videos and photos of ISIS suicide squad activities were found on their devices. The Special Task Force (STF) recovered electronic evidence and literature during raids, raising concerns about local youth recruitment and potential suicide attacks in West Bengal. Both individuals, described as tech-savvy, were involved in brainwashing youths to join ISIS and arranging funds for the terrorist network in the state.

• The NIA conducted searches in Karnataka related to the Shivamogga Islamic State (IS) conspiracy case, resulting in the arrest of two IS operatives, Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh and Huzair Farhan Baig. The case involves a conspiracy to advance IS terror activities, posing a threat to the unity, security, and sovereignty of the country. Investigations revealed that Maaz Muneer radicalized Reshaan Thajuddin, and the arrested individuals received funds from their IS handler through crypto-wallets. The suspects engaged in arson and targeted vehicles, liquor shops, godowns, and transformers. Digital devices and incriminating documents were seized during the searches. Two others were previously arrested in the case.