The group planned to target political leaders and security installations by carrying out explosions

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday got 12-day custody of the 10 alleged members of an Islamic State-inspired module that planned to target political leaders and security and government installations by carrying out explosions and ‘fidayeen’ attacks in the National Capital Region.

Tight security

The accused were produced in the court amid tight security and with their faces covered. The court conducted in-camera proceedings. The NIA sought 15 days’ custody of the accused to unearth the larger conspiracy, but it was granted 12 days of remand.

The judge later allowed the family members of some accused to meet them in the courtroom as they had produced their identity proofs.

Credible information

The agency registered the case against main accused Mufti Mohammed Suhail and his associates on the basis of an order from the Union Home Ministry on December 19 to investigate the alleged conspiracy, after the Central government received ‘credible information’ that a group of pro-IS individuals had floated a terror outfit and was preparing to target places of importance in and around Delhi.

On Wednesday, the NIA said the accused were arrested in a joint operation with the Delhi Police’s Special Cell and the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Uttar Pradesh. During the searches at 17 locations in the two States, they seized about 25 kg of bomb-making materials like potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulphur and sugar material paste.

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The seizures also included 12 pistols, 150 rounds of ammunition, a country-made rocket launcher, 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, steel containers, wires, 91 mobile phones and 134 SIM cards, besides about ₹7.5 lakh in cash.

6 more questioned

The accused had conducted reconnaissance of some potential targets and given the preparation, the strikes were imminent, said the agency, adding that six more persons were being questioned on suspicion of their involvement.

(With agency inputs)