The National Investigative Agency on Saturday arrested nine al Qaeda operatives in raids conducted at multiple locations in Murshidabad, West Bengal and Ernakulam, Kerala.
In a statement released by NIA citing the preliminary investigation, it is stated that these men held were radicalised by Pakistan-based al Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including the National Capital Region.
The investigative agency said that the module was actively indulging in fundraising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. The arrest of nine operatives, NIA says, has pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.
NIA has also seized a large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices.
Here is the list of men arrested by NIA:
Arrests from Ernakulam, Kerala:
1. Murshid Hasan
2. Iyakub Biswas
3. Mosaraf Hossen
Arrests from West Bengal’s Murshidabad:
1. Najmus Sakib
2. Abu Sufiyan
3. Mainul Mondal
4. Leu Yean Ahmed
5. Al Mamun Kamal
6. Atitur Rehman
