The National Investigative Agency (NIA) in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorism squad on Wednesday conducted searches in 16 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a new ISIS module named ‘Harkat ul Harb-e-Islam’.
Amroha district which is about 150 km away from the National Capital is being kept as the epi-centre for conducting these search operations.
An FIR related to this new wing which is suspected to have connections with ISIS has been registered by the Lucknow unit of the NIA and search operations are being carried out in collaboration with the UP ATS.
NIA officials have confirmed that the search operations are continuing.
Visuals from Amroha where NIA is conducting searches in connection with a new ISIS module styled as ‘Harkat ul Harb e Islam’. Searches are underway at 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. pic.twitter.com/aCp03AYRr6
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 26, 2018
The agency has put Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh on high alert. Based on preliminary investigations, the Delhi Police Special Cell and ATS have taken five people into custody for their suspected involvement with the terrorist organisation, three from Saidpur Imma village of Nogawa Sadat. They are being interrogated.
The NIA reportedly conducted this raid as it was suspected that terrorist Zakir Musa was currently hiding in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, the Punjab police had been put on high alert after terrorist Zakir Musa, Al-Qaeda’s commander and one of the most wanted, was spotted in Punjab on November 16. The intelligence inputs had claimed that the terrorist and his group may be moving towards the national capital, New Delhi.
More information awaited.