NIA arrests 9 Al-Qaeda terrorists in multiple raids in Kerala, Bengal

"NIA had learnt about an inter-state module of Al-Qaeda operatives at various locations in India, including West-Bengal and Kerala. The group was planning to undertake terrorist attacks at vital installations in India with an aim to kill innocent people and strike terror," an official statement by the probe agency read.

While six terrorists were arrested from Bengal, three terrorists were arrested from Kerala in the early morning raids, it added.

The arrested terrorists were identified as Murshid Hasan, Iyakub Biswas and Mosaraf Hossen, all residents of Perumbavoor in Ernakulam, Kerala; Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kamal and Atitur Rehman, all residents of Murshidabad, in West Bengal.

The nine terrorists will be produced before the concerned courts in Kerala and West Bengal for police custody and further investigation.

"Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession," the NIA said, adding that "these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places," including Delhi-NCR.

The module was "actively indulging in fund-raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to Delhi to procure arms and ammunition," as per the initial investigation.

As per the preliminary investigation, the nine arrested accused were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including Delhi National Capital Region. 

For this purpose, the module led by Murshidabad resident Abu Sufiyan, who is among the 9 arrested, was actively involved in fundraising. While investigations are continuing, NIA said these arrests have pre-empted the immediate possibility of terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.