Two more IS suspects arrested in Hyderabad

The recently busted module comprising five Hyderabadis could be bigger than what the law-enforcing agencies initially suspected.

IS terror suspects being brought to the Nampally court in Hyderabad by the NIA on Tuesday.—Photo: K.V.S. Giri

The recently busted Islamic State (IS) module comprising five Hyderabadis could be bigger than what the law enforcing agencies initially suspected.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Tuesday arrested two more youths from the city on the charge of aiding and abetting the five suspects arrested earlier. Ataullah Rehman and Yasser Naimathullah were picked up from Quba colony of Bandlaguda and Darogh Lane of Moghalpura respectively.

They were presented before the Special Court for NIA cases in Nampally and remanded in judicial custody. The duo, according to the remand report, allegedly planned to carry out terror attacks and wage war against the Union of India.

Sources in the NIA said Rehman played a key role in bringing together members of the module. The conspiracy to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at public places was a part of his conspiracy.

“We have evidence to indicate that he had taken the initiative to radicalise members of the module and motivate them in joining the IS,” investigators unwilling to be quoted said. They are verifying reports that Rehman had administered ‘Bayah’ — oath of allegiance — to the Khalifa-Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi to the remaining six IS suspects.

He had participated in many secret meetings held at different locations with the members of the module. This was reportedly confirmed by the five arrested — Abdullah Bin Ahmed Ali Amoodi, Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, Habeeb Mohammed, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani and Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan. The police custody of the five arrested ended on Tuesday. Rehman and Hussaini were arrested based on the revelations made by the five suspects during their interrogation by NIA sleuths. The second suspect arrested on Tuesday, Naimathullah, was reportedly the main fund raiser for the module.

They wanted to collect separate ‘terrorist fund’ for IS operations in Hyderabad and Naimathullah was designated as ‘Amir’ of the group. NIA Hyderabad SP L.R. Kumar on Tuesday moved the court seeking 30 days custody of Rehman and Naimathullah.

However, the court granted eight-day custody of the duo along with Habeeb and Ali Amoodi to the NIA. The judicial remand of the remaining suspects, Ibrahim Yazdani, Ilyas Yazdani and Rizwan, was extended till July 26.