Terror links: NIA searches 40 locations in Telangana, Andhra; 4 detained

On July 4, four PFI activists — Shaik Sahadulla, Mohammed Imran, Mohammed Abdul Mobin and Abdul Kader – were arrested in Telangana’s Nizamabad district and booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act on charges of conspiring and attempting to create religious animosity and promote enmity between groups.

On August 26, the case was transferred to the NIA for further investigation and fresh case was registered by the agency.

“On Sunday, the NIA conducted searches at 38 locations in Telangana – 23 in Nizamabad, 4 in Hyderabad, 7 in Jagityal, 2 in Nirmal, and 1 each in Adilabad and Karimnagar districts and at 2 locations in Andhra Pradesh – 1 each in Kurnool and Nellore districts in the case relating to Abdul Khader of Nizamabad district, Telangana and 26 other persons,” the NIA said in a statement. “The accused were organising camps for imparting training to commit terrorist acts and to promote enmity between different groups on the basis of religion.”

“During the searches, incriminating materials, including digital devices, documents, two daggers, Rs 8.3 lakh cash were seized. Four persons have been detained for questioning. Further investigations in the case are in progress,” a spokesperson for the NIA said.

According to the Nizamabad police, three PFI activists — Sahadulla, Imran and Mobin – had hired Jagtial resident Abdul Qader, who was arrested on July 4, for Rs 6 lakh to train PFI recruits in martial arts and the use of lethal weapons. Qader trained around 200 youngsters at his house in Autonagar area of Nizamabad town over six months, Police Commissioner K R Nagaraju had said.