By – Prakarsh Kastwar
Shahnawaz, the NIA’s most wanted terrorist, was apprehended by Delhi Police.
The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most wanted terrorist, Shahnawaz alias Shafi Uzzama, was captured by the Delhi Police Special Cell in a significant development. Shahnawaz was sought after in relation to the Pune ISIS investigation and had a 3 lakh rupee reward on his head.
The 32-year-old Delhi resident and engineer by profession had managed to get out from Pune police custody, starting a huge manhunt that involved multiple states.
Two more people have been taken into custody by members of the Delhi Police Special Cell in connection with the case. These detainees’ identities have not yet been made public.
According to police, the module planned to carry out terrorist attacks in North India and was receiving guidance from handlers from outside.
According to the police, “incriminating materials were recovered, including materials suspected to be used for IED fabrication,” according to ANI.
The NIA’s continuous efforts to detain people connected to the Pune ISIS module case include the arrest of Shafi Uzzama. The NIA had previously made public the images of four terror suspects sought in connection with this case and announced a reward of Rs. 3 lakh for any tip that led to their capture.
An comprehensive nationwide manhunt was conducted for Shafi Uzzama, Talha Liyakat Khan, Rizwan Abdul Haji Ali, and Abdulla Faiyaz Shaikh alias Daiperwala.
What is Pune ISIS module case
Following their attempted robbery of a two-wheeler on July 18, Shahnawaz and two other men—Mohammad Imran Mohammad Yunus Khan and Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yakub Saki—were apprehended by the Kothrud police in Pune. Shahnawaz jumped out of the police car and managed to flee as the police were transporting them to their home in Kondhwa in Pune for a search.
Khan and Saki, who are natives of Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, were allegedly involved in a different terror case that was reported in Rajasthan, where explosives were recovered in a car in March 2022, according to the police. A 5 lakh bounty was placed on the heads of both Khan and Saki.
The inquiry was taken over by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on July 22. The ATS detained several individuals while conducting their investigation, including SN Kazi and IT engineer Qadir Dastagir Pathan at Kondhwa. The agency brought Khan, Saki, and other suspects under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
When Khan and Saki discovered that Shahnawaz had acid stockpiled in Bopatghat near Kondhwa, the investigation took a crucial turn. To get the acid and other chemicals needed in building bombs, the NIA called on the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad.
Additionally, the ATS seized a number of other items and discovered 500 GB of data on the accused’s laptops and smartphones that linked to YouTube videos on how to make explosives and Google photos of various locations.