The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested five men and detained six others in Hyderabad in a citywide crackdown. Officials said, they are alleged to be part of a conspiracy to carry out terror strikes at religious places to trigger communal riots in the city.
The Hindu reported, this is the second such crackdown this year. The NIA recovered a huge quantity of chemicals and acids. An official, who is part of the investigations, said that, “Such acids and chemicals have been recovered for the first time. They were making some lethal concoction of explosives it seems. A large vessel and three litres of paint were also recovered. They were using masks and gloves to protect them from any kind of injury that they may sustain while preparing the bomb and lead to suspicion against them.”
“They came under the scanner after behavioural changes were noticed in them. On the basis of information passed on by the locals, the NIA kept a tab on their activities,” said the official.
Earlier, the NIA had arrested 25 men with links to the IS during a countrywide raid in January this year. There are no connection the two sets of arrests. “This is a fresh module,” said another official.
The FIR says: “The accused and their accomplices from Hyderabad and other parts of the country have entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against government of India by collecting weapons and explosive materials to target prominent places, public places, religious places, malls, markets, public properties and in particular sensitive government buildings in Hyderabad and other places.”
It also read: “It is also reliably learnt that they have acquired weapons and explosive materials to carry out violent terrorist attacks and related subversive activities. The members of this group are in constant touch with each other on the Internet and are using various other communication platforms within India and have linkages abroad. Information has also been received to the effect that the group members are in communication with a terrorist organization namely IS, which is a proscribed organization.”
The NIA conducted search operations at eleven locations in Hyderabad City and recovered two 9 mm pistols, Urea, an airgun, chemicals (yet to be analyzed), three laptops, 23 mobile phones, seven pendrives, two gas stoves, two target boards, a big vessel for mixing explosives, pressure meter, three litres of paint, imported knives, condenser, two clocks and masks and gloves.
Also Read: Istanbul airport attack: At least 36 dead and dozens injured
Nandini
