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New Delhi: NIA conducted simultaneous raids at several locations at Ernakulam (Kerala)
and Murshidabad (West Bengal) on Saturday, 19 September 2020, and arrested 9 terrorists associated with Pakistan sponsored module of Al-Qaeda.

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 in their minds. After registering a case (No. RC-31/2020/NIA/DLI) on
11 September 2020, NIA had initiated investigation.

NIA has arrested 6 terrorists from West-Bengal and 3 terrorists from Kerala in the early morning raids. Large quantity of incriminating material, 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. Preliminary investigation has revealed that these individuals were radicalised by
Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including the National Capital Region. For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of the gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.

The arrested accused are Murshid Hasan, Iyakub Biswas and Mosaraf Hossen, all currently residents of Ernakulam, Kerala; Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kamal, and Atitur Rehman, all residents of Murshidabad, West Bengal.

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