ISIS Module Case: Arrested Suspected Terrorists Are Engineers, One Pursuing PhD

The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Monday arrested "most-wanted" terror suspect along with two of his accomplices. This comes after the authorities carried out two months of surveiilance-based operations and raids at over 200 locations.

According to the cops, Shahnawaz, who is alleged to have links with an ISIS module, was arrested Sunday night from southeast Delhi on Monday. He had carried a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh after escaping from the Pune Police's custody.

What has come to light is that Shahnawaz and his accomplices Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf and Mohammad Arshad Warsi were arrested in Lucknow and Moradabad, in Uttar Pradesh, respectively, have studied engineering.

Educational Background

Shahnawaz is an engineer by profession. Hailing from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, he did his mining engineering from the prestigious Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology.

Mohammed Arshad Warsi had completed his BTech in Mechanical Engineering from Aligarh University and Officials stated that he was presently enrolled in a doctoral program at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi.

The other accused is Mohammed Rizwan Ashraf, who is from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, had done BTech in computer science.

At a press conference on Sunday, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HS Dhaliwal, said, "Last month NIA declared award on three persons who have alleged involvement in blasts cases. Of them, Mohammad Shahnawaz, the main accused, has been arrested with his two associates-- Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf and Mohammad Arshad Warsi."

During the raids, the cops have recovered bomb-making literature, sent from Pakistan-based handlers, and other incriminating materials from Shahnawaz's hideouts.

"Several explosives-making materials including, elementary, plastic tubes, and iron pipes, were recovered. (Apart from it) Pistol, cartridges, and bomb-making literature sent from Pak-based handlers, were (also) recovered," the Special CP stated.

The preliminary interrogation has revealed that the trio conducted elaborate recce in Western Ghats, southern India, including Hubbali, Dharwad, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat to establish their hideouts.

Responding to a question, Dhaliwal said, "Shahnawaz is a mining engineer from Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology. His wife, Basanti Patel, is converted to Islam and is now known as Mariam."

The three wanted suspected terrorists were produced before the court and have been sent to seven days of police custody.