NIA apprehends 2 members of ISIS sleeper cell in Mumbai after being two years on the run
PTC News Desk: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended two fugitives at Mumbai airport who were allegedly members of an ISIS sleeper cell, officials reported on Saturday. The individuals were wanted in connection with a 2023 case involving the creation and testing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Pune, Maharashtra.
Identified as Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh, also known as Diaperwala, and Talha Khan, the suspects were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration at Terminal 2 of Mumbai International Airport late last night as they attempted to re-enter India from Jakarta, Indonesia, where they had been in hiding.
The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy involving Shaikh, Khan, and eight other members of the ISIS sleeper cell based in Pune, who are currently in judicial custody. The group allegedly plotted to carry out terrorist activities intended to disrupt India’s peace and communal harmony, as part of a broader plan to wage war against the Government of India. Their actions were reportedly aligned with ISIS’s goal of establishing Islamic rule in the country through the use of violence and terror.
Earlier, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against all 10 accused under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code. In addition to Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh and Talha Khan, the other individuals named in the chargesheet include Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam.
- With inputs from agencies
