Maharashtra ATS arrests NIA terror accused for alleged links with banned outfit ISIS

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad, which is investigating the Al Sufa Terror Group case on Tuesday, arrested Zulfikar Ali Barodawala suspecting links of Al Sufa Terror Group with ISIS Maharashtra module. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted widespread searches in ISIS Maharashtra module cases across several districts of the state and made four arrests initially from Mumbai, Pune and Thane.

NIA arrested Tabeesh Naseer Siddiqui from Mumbai, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh Abu Nusaiba from Pune, and Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala from Thane on July 3. Later, NIA made 5th arrest from Pune's Kondhwa area, Dr Adnan Ali Sarkar who is also a relative of Zulfikar Ali Barodawala. 

Issuing a statement, NIA said, “The accused were trying to breach the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country and preparing to wage a war against the government of India, as part of the ISIS conspiracy, by raising and operating a sleeper cell in Maharashtra." 

It further said, “Arrested accused had recruited youth and trained them in the fabrication of IEDs and weapons. The accused had also shared relevant material, including ‘Do it Yourself kits’ (DIY), amongst themselves for fabrication of IEDs and manufacture of small weapons, pistols etc."

Pune Police patrolling team had made two arrests after they spotted three individuals stealing a bike. Later, it appeared that the arrested accused were wanted in a case pertaining to Rajasthan which was under investigation by NIA. The duo were identified as Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Yakub Mohammad Yunus Saki and were associated with the Al Sufa Terror Group. The case was overtaken by Maharashtra ATS which made two more arrests in the case – Abdul Qadir from Gondia and Shamim Qazi from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. 

The Maharashtra ATS recovered a drone, a bomb circuit and several incriminating documents and Google images of key locations of Mumbai and Pune. The investigation revealed that the Google image of Chabad House located in Mumbai's Colaba area, which was targeted by terrorists in the 26/11 terrorist attack was also recovered. 

The team of ATS also visited the spot with the Bomb Detection and Disposal team located in the Pune's forest area where it recovered chemical powder, charcoal, thermometer, dropper, soldering gun, multimeter, small bulb, button, and alarm clock. 

Maharashtra ATS on Tuesday arrested Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, who was under judicial custody in the ISIS Maharashtra module case. The Maharashtra ATS suspects possible links with the Al Sufa Terrorist and ISIS Maharashtra module case following which these arrests have been made.

A senior official of Maharashtra ATS said,  "We have recovered several incriminating materials and devices from the accused arrested in Al Sufa Case including a bomb circuit, thermometer, alarm clock, dripper etc. We suspect that there is a possible link between the ISIS case with these accused. We can't reveal more information as this may hamper the case but we believe that there are many more characters in this case. The evidences in both cases indicates that there could be some possible links. We are in touch with the relevant authorities and will make more arrests as the case proceeds.”