Powered by
Sponsored by

NIA takes over probe into terror module busted by Rajasthan cops

To investigate possible links of this module with a major terrorist outfit

nia-logo-latest (File) Representational image

The Union home ministry has asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the case involving a recent terror module busted by Rajasthan police in which seven persons were arrested. The accused were booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

The NIA will be investigating possible linkages of this module with a big terrorist outfit that may be planning huge strikes in different parts of the country.

According to the FIR registered by the state police, three persons namely Zubair, Saifulla and Altamas Khan were arrested under various sections of Explosives Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act after five bags of fine silver-coloured explosive powder and grey colour granular explosive material were found along with some currency from Chittaurgarh district of Rajasthan. The MHA’s counter terror division, in its order, said the offences fall under the scheduled offences of the NIA Act which empowers the central agency to probe terror acts in any part of the country .

Security sources said the accused were linked to the radical outfit Al Sufa, a group in Ratlam whose name had come up during investigation into a murder case of a Hindu leader in Madhya Pradesh.

After the Rajasthan police approached the NIA to look into the terror links of this module, the central agency found certain links with accused already under its scanner. Now the MHA has asked the central agency to proceed with the case under the anti-terror law.

Ratlam had come on the radar of intelligence agencies after the Intelligence Bureau busted an ISIS module in 2015 in which a terror conspiracy was hatched by the globally proscribed terror outfit to target BJP and RSS leaders. The MHA had then asked the state government to hand over the case to the NIA after the probe revealed involvement of some Indian Mujahideen leaders, based in Karachi, who were using the internet to radicalise youth from Rajasthan .

The fresh case is expected to give more leads to the NIA about the links of the arrested persons with a major terror group and its inter-state linkages.

TAGS

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines