In a citywide crackdown, National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials with the help of the city police on Wednesday busted an ISIS terror module and took 11 suspects in custody.

According to the sources, ISIS were allegedly planning terror strikes in Hyderabad and other parts of the country either with bombs or by opening fire randomly at crowded places.

The prime targets for the ISIS module in the city have been identified as Inorbit Mall and the IT zone in Madhapur.

NIA officials seized target boards used for shooting practice, two pistols, an air gun, explosive substances and other material used for making indigenous explosive devises (IEDs). They also seized Rs 15 lakh cash which the arrested claimed was earned through trade.

The suspects were booked under section Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substance Act, and IPC for waging war against India.

The suspects were apparently in touch with key ISIS recruiter Shafi Armar, a former Indian Mujahideen operative based in Syria, and took orders from him. They had allegedly practiced shooting at Bandlaguda on the city’s outskirts and Narsapur in Medak district.

Searches were conducted in Moghalpura, Bhavaninagar, Mirch-owk, Chandrayangutta, Mir Alam Mandi, Charminar, Bandlaguda and Talab Katta areas.

Telangana state police official said that “the NIA conducted searches at 11 locations in Hyderabad since early Wednesday with the assistance of the Hyderabad Police. It had received information that some youth hailing from Hyderabad and their accomplices had entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India by collecting weapons and explosive material to commit terrorist acts by targeting public places in various parts of the country.”

Also Read: Two Telangana men in close contact with terror suspects in NIA custody

BY M. DIVYA SHRI