NIA Raids 44 Locations In Karnataka, Maharashtra; 13 Held From Pune In Connection With ISIS

According to the reports, the National Investigation Agency on Saturday conducted raids over 40 locations across Karnataka and Maharashtra and nabbed 13 suspects for having connections with ISIS. The NIA officers searched a place in Karnataka, 31 in Thane Rural, 9 in Thane city, 1 in Bhayandar, and two in Pune, from where 13 arrests have been made this morning, reports news agency ANI.

An ISIS terror conspiracy case pertains to a criminal, who pledged to spread violent extremist ideology of terrorist organizations Al-Qaeda and ISIS in India.

All 44 locations were raided by agency sleuths in coordination with the Maharashtra and Karnataka police. These accused, who have been held by the anti-terror force, were used to recruit mind-wash youth in the name of religion to wage violent jihad to promote Islamic rule in India.

Reports said the accused were found in possession of IEDs, firearms, and ammunition, and were responsible for providing shelter, training, and other explosive devices to the terrorists for misconduct.

The investigating agency has filed charges against all 13 accused held under the various sections of the UAPA Act, Explosives Substances Act, Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code.

A few days ago, the NIA raided eight locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla District, South Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian districts, and one location in Jammu District. The NIA sleuths raided locations across J&K to nab people associated with Pakistan-backed terror organizations namely Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda.

After the raids, NIA told media that "The locations raided today were residential premises of hybrid terrorists and Overground Workers (OGWs) associated with the newly formed affiliates and offshoots of the banned terrorist outfits."

"Extensive searches were also conducted at the premises of the cadres and sympathizers of these newly floated organizations, which included The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF, among others," NIA added.