NIA questions 8 from Hyderabad over alleged ISIS links, seizes phones and laptops

This was the third day of questioning by the agency, which had interrogated eight other persons earlier this week.
NIA questions 8 from Hyderabad over alleged ISIS links, seizes phones and laptops
NIA questions 8 from Hyderabad over alleged ISIS links, seizes phones and laptops
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday questioned eight people in Hyderabad, with regard to their alleged links with terror groups and seized their mobile phones and laptops.

This was the third day of questioning by the agency, which had interrogated eight other persons earlier this week.  

“The mobile phones and the laptops have been sent for forensic examination while the youths are being questioned. They have been apprehended because it was suspected they were going to execute some terror act. They will be arrested if any evidence is found against them,” a senior NIA officer told Express.

The NIA let off the suspects early on Wednesday night and said that they may be summoned again for questioning if needed.

On Monday, searches were conducted 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.

IANS inputs

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