Suspected ISIS terrorist arrested by Delhi Police in major breakthrough

Mangalore Today News Network / NDTV

New Delhi, Oct 02, 2023: A suspected ISIS terrorist, who was on the most wanted list of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has been arrested in Delhi during a big crackdown by the anti-terror agency.

Shahnawaz alias Shafi Uzzama was arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police from a hideout in the national capital. The Delhi Police special cell is among several agencies working with the NIA to crack down on terror networks across several states.

 

The cops have also detained several persons suspected to be sleeper cells of the terrorist organisation.

Shahnawaz, an engineer by profession, was wanted in the ISIS Pune module case. According to sources, Shahnawaz is originally from Delhi but had moved to Pune. In July, during a raid in Pune, two of his associates were arrested. Shahnawaz managed to flee and returned to Delhi. He had been living in a hideout since.

Earlier this month, the NIA had announced a cash reward of ₹ 3 lakh each for information about Shahnawaz and three other terror suspects -- Rizwan Abdul Haji Ali, Abdulla Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Liyakat Khan.

Shahnawaz, Abdulla and Rizwan were radicalised into joining the ISIS mission over Telegram app, it is learnt. It is alleged that they were linked to an ISIS module at Pune in Maharashtra. They wanted to engineer violence and terror in the country, NIA sources said. According to sources, Abdulla ran a diaper store at Pune that was used to assemble explosive devices. He may try to escape to Oman, NIA sources have said.

Rizwan Ali is from Delhi. He and his younger brother were arrested in 2018 for alleged ISIS links, but security agencies could not find evidence against them. He was released after a deradicalisation programme. He went to Pune after two years back, told his family that he is running a computer business. He married and lived there with his wife. The couple returned to Delhi after Rizwan’s father started keeping unwell. Two months back, he left his home.