The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted searches at seven locations across Hyderabad in connection with its ongoing investigation into an Islamic State module it busted in 2016, the agency said.

"We conducted searches at seven locations in Hyderabad in a 2016 Islamic State case. Further investigation is underway," said NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal, adding the raiding team has also seized some digital devices and incriminating material.

The anti-terror agency on June 22, 2016 registered an FIR in connection with the case and subsequently busted the Islamic State cell after a raid conducted in Moghalpura and Bhawaninagar areas in Hyderabad. At least five people were arrested in the case. 

The NIA had said that the five accused were allegedly plotting bomb attacks and indiscriminate firing at crowded places including religious sites and sensitive government buildings in various parts of the country.

They were allegedly being guided by an online handler suspected to be based in Iraq/Syria.

The NIA later made several more arrests in the case.

Following the arrests, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi had said that his party would provide legal help to the youths, but asserted that his party does not support terrorism.

Noting that the family members of the arrested youths met him and claimed they were innocent, he said he directed a senior advocate to provide legal help to them.

In June last year, the Hyderabad police arrested Konakalla Subramanyam alias Omer from a house in Paramount Colony in Hyderabad.

Personnel of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) found in his possession one mobile phone, which contained incriminating conversation with IS sympathisers.

Police filed a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy against the 22-year-old accused.

A native of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, Subramanyam had embraced Islam in 2014. Police said he visited Gujarat and trained in religious rituals and scriptures. He also visited Srinagar, Omrabad, Ambur of Tamil Nadu and Mumbai.

IANS inputs