The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted coordinated raids across six regions of the country as part of its probe into a terror conspiracy case linked to ISIS and affiliated groups. The searches were carried out at 21 locations spanning Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu and Kashmir. The operation follows the agency’s takeover of the case from Chengalpattu police in Tamil Nadu, where the alleged activities of Akhlathur Mohammed Akhlque Mujahid first came to light.
Mujahid is accused of conspiring to commit terrorist acts in India by collaborating with other operatives to mobilize manpower and arrange material support for jihad. Investigators allege that he actively maintained contacts with ISIS and other international terror networks through social media platforms, using them to build connections with individuals and entities based in Pakistan and Syria.
During the searches, the NIA recovered multiple digital devices, including mobile phones, along with documents that are now being examined for evidence of the conspiracy. According to the agency, these items are believed to contain communications and records of Mujahid’s interactions with foreign handlers. Early findings suggest that Mujahid may have received guidance or assistance from international elements, raising concerns of cross-border involvement in the plot.
The raids mark a significant step in the ongoing investigation, which is focused not only on dismantling Mujahid’s immediate network but also on identifying larger support structures that may have aided his alleged activities. Authorities are working to decode encrypted communications and trace financial or logistical channels that could point to wider terror links.
The case underscores the continued challenge posed by online radicalisation and the use of digital platforms by extremist groups to recruit, coordinate, and plan subversive activities. With Mujahid’s alleged outreach to contacts in Pakistan and Syria, the NIA is intensifying efforts to uncover the extent of international coordination behind the conspiracy.
