Several Arrested by NIA in Mumbai and Pune for Suspected Links with ISIS and PFI

MUMBAI: A Mumbai-based individual named Tabish has been apprehended on allegations of writing articles for the IS propaganda magazine, "Voice of Hind," and administering the oath of allegiance to another detainee known as Amir. This arrest, along with three others, was made by a joint team consisting of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Mumbai Police. The raids, which commenced on Monday, took place at four locations in Mumbai and Pune. These individuals had been under surveillance by central agencies since mid-2021.

The search operations yielded substantial incriminating material, including electronic devices, which were seized from the detainees and their residences. The sympathisers had been on the radar of the central agency since the beginning of 2021, and the search operations are still ongoing. One of the raids took place at Wazir Cascade Society, under the jurisdiction of the Kondhwa Police Station, resulting in the arrest of Zubair Sheik, a 39-year-old individual suspected of having links with ISIS.

In a separate incident, the NIA team, in collaboration with the Darbhanga police, apprehended an individual from Chhotki Bazar in the Behera police station area, Darbhanga, in relation to a case involving the Popular Front of India (PFI). Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Kumar confirmed the arrest and mentioned that the NIA had assisted the Darbhanga police in apprehending the suspect. Furthermore, the NIA and the Bihar Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) jointly conducted raids at a book stall owned by Mohammad Riazuddin Kasmi, located in Phulwari Sharif, Patna district.

In recent reports, the NIA announced the establishment of a collaborative structured framework with the police departments of Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh. This framework aims to facilitate coordinated actions against the northern gang ecosystem, as well as real-time intelligence exchange. Dinkar Gupta, the Director General (DG) of the NIA, presided over a meeting with the heads of the three police departments, emphasizing the significance of collective efforts in combating organized crime.

Darbhanga SSP Avakash Kumar cited, "NIA with the help of Darbhanga police arrested a suspected youth who is a suspect in a PFI case, from Chotki Bazar of the Bahera police station area,"

These recent arrests and collaborative initiatives highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to tackle extremist ideologies and criminal networks. By working together and sharing intelligence, authorities aim to strengthen their fight against terrorism and organized crime, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the region.

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