Top leaders of Indian wing of ISIS were asked to concentrate on Delhi, Mumbai: Report

Delhi: Even as two more people were detained by central security agencies in connection with the recently busted pan-India terror module owing allegiance to
the Islamic State yesterday, a report said on Wednesday that top two leaders of the Indian wing of ISIS were asked by their foreign handlers to scout for potential targets for terror strikes in Delhi and Mumbai.

Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, 33, self-styled 'ameer' of group from Mumbra, is currently in the NIA’s custody.

 

On the other hand, Khalid Ahmed Ali alias Rizwan, 20, the second-in-command of the organisation is in the custody of the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad.

He was arrested from Uttar Pradesh.

 

A report in Hindustan Times quoted sources in security agencies as saying that most of the suspects arrested ahead of the Republic Day celebrations did not have Indian passports.

It added that instruction from their handlers was to lure fresh local recruits to carry out terror attacks whenever possible.

 

Meanwhile, continuing with its operations against the group, the security agencies picked up a youth from Hyderabad and another person from Maharashtra yesterday, official sources said, as per PTI.

NIA has arrested at least 14 people belonging to 'Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind' (Army of Caliph of India), the Indian wing of ISIS, who were picked up from various parts of the country for allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes at important installations.

 

On the other hand, fourteen youths arrested by NIA were in touch with an handler who was earlier with Indian Mujahideen and now maintains strong links with terror group ISIS.

Official sources said these 14 men were in constant touch with each other since this month and were taking instructions from Safi Armar alias Yusuf, a former member of the Indian Mujahideen and believed to have strong links with ISIS.

 

They said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will soon approach its foreign counterparts in order to locate the Internet servers used by these men while chatting and collect evidence in this regard.

The sources said they were also in touch with some people who were nabbed by Delhi Police from Uttarakhand's Roorkee and the four youths who had disappeared sometime ago from Malwani, Mulund and Malad areas of Maharashtra.

While two returned, the other two had joined ISIS. These 14 were in touch with the other two people also, they claimed.

(With Agency inputs)