The National Investigation Agency (NIA), today, arrested 9 Al-Qaeda terrorists associated with Pakistan sponsored module of Al-Qaeda after conducting simultaneous raids at several locations across West Bengal and Kerala. All accused are said to be in their early twenties and work as labourers.
NIA has arrested 06 (six) terrorists from West Bengal and 03 (three) terrorists from Kerala in the early morning raids. Among the arrested the terrorists, 6 have been identified as Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kamal and Atitur Rehman. All are said to be residents of Murshidabad. Meanwhile, the other 3 have been identified as Murshid Hasan, Iyakub Biswas and Mosaraf Hossen, all residents of Ernakulam, Kerala.
The NIA statement maintained, “these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region. For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.
Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession.
The group was planning to undertake terrorist attacks at vital installations in India to kill innocent people and strike terror in their minds. Accordingly, NIA registered a case and initiated investigation. The arrested terrorists will be produced before the courts in West Bengal and Kerala for police custody and further investigation.