IS terror module: Judicial custody of 7 accused extended

A Hyderabad court today extended till August 24 the judicial custody of seven city-based persons, who were arrested by NIA in connection with a suspected ISIS terror module busted by the agency here. The seven accused, including two key members Naimathullah Hussaini alias Yasir and Mohammed Ataullah Rehman, who are currently lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here, were produced before Metropolitan Sessions Judge K Rajkumar through video linkage as their judicial custody ended today. The court further remanded all of them in judicial custody till August 24. The NIA had initially arrested five members of the module - Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Ibbu, Habeeb Mohammed alias Sir, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi and Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan - on June 29 after a series of searches at 10 locations in Old City here. Subsequently, Rehman, who was claimed to have played a key role in plotting terror strikes and also involved in radicalising others, was arrested along with Yasir on July 12. Rehman allegedly administered them (group members of the Hyderabad module) 'Bay h' - oath of allegiance to the ISIS chief Abu Baghdadi. Yasir was appointed the "amir" (chief) of the Hyderabad module and was its main fund-raiser. He also participated in key conspiracy meetings, according to NIA. Following some prior probe, the NIA had on June 22 lodged an FIR for criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India and made the arrests. In its remand application submitted to the court earlier, the agency had said the five accused (arrested on June 29) procured weapons and explosive material to carry out terrorist attacks at public places, religious sites and sensitive government buildings in various parts of India and was in touch with ISIS members in Syria. Along with explosive material, the NIA had recovered two semi-automatic pistols with ammunition, an air gun, shooting practice target boards, a large number of digital gadgets, including six laptops, about 40 mobile phones, 32 SIM cards, hard disks, memory cards, pen drives and tabs during its search operation.