The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken significant steps in the ongoing investigation into the Pune ISIS arms and explosives seizure case. According to the NIA, a fresh chargesheet has been filed, naming four additional accused and adding charges against one individual previously charged.
This development brings the total number of accused charge-sheeted in the case to 11. Among the newly named accused are Md Shahnawaz Alam, Rizwan Ali, Abdullah Shaikh, and Talha Liyakat Khan. Additionally, supplementary charges have been brought against Shamil Nachan, previously identified among the seven accused charge-sheeted by the anti-terror agency.
Notably, Md Shahnawaz Alam had previously evaded detention following his involvement in a bike theft in Pune’s Kothrud Area. NIA arrested Alam on November 2nd last year revealing his as-sociation with both the arrested and absconding accused in the ISIS case. The agency’s thorough investigation, including DNA matching with seized clothing, further solidified the case against him.
The NIA’s findings paint a chilling picture of the accused individuals’ activities and intentions. It is alleged that all accused were members of the proscribed terrorist organization, ISIS, and were actively engaged in planning terror activities in and around Pune, Maharashtra. These activities were part of a larger conspiracy to advance the terror agenda of ISIS, as per the NIA’s investigation.
The agency’s statement also reveals disturbing details about the accused’s modus operandi, including communication with foreign-based handlers via encrypted messaging apps, fundraising through armed robberies and thefts, and engagement in training exercises for terrorist operations. The accused had undergone IED fabrication training and conducted a controlled blast, in addition to conducting reconnaissance missions in Western Ghats areas and scouting potential targets for terror attacks across Maharashtra and Gujarat.
During the investigation, the NIA also recovered handwritten notes from the accused, detailing their IED fabrication training, as well as items used during the ‘bayath’ (pledge) ceremony, including a drone, clothing, and a knife bearing allegiance to the ISIS Khalifa.
Worth mentioning here is that the original chargesheet named individuals including Md Imran, Md Yunus Saki, Kadir Dastgir Pathan, Seemab Quazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, and Akeef Nachan, further underscoring the breadth and complexity of the case.
