Ten people allegedly linked to a new module of the Islamic State group were arrested on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in a joint operation by the National Investigation Agency and police of the two states, the agency said.
The National Investigation Agency conducted raids at 17 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with an ongoing investigation into Harkat ul Harb-e-Islam, a new module of the Islamic State jihadist group. The Delhi Police Special Cell and the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad were part of the operation.
Inspector General of Police of Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad Asim Arun confirmed the arrests. Pistols, ammonium nitrate and material used to make Improvised Explosive Devices were recovered from those arrested, India Today reported.
According to unidentified agency officials, the searches that started on Wednesday morning are under way, PTI reported.
According to the investigating agencies, the module has been active for over six months and is suspected to have about 20 members, reported The Hindu.
The agency in August had arrested two men in Hyderabad for their alleged connections with the jihadist group.
The Ministry of Home Affairs last year said that the agency had arrested 103 individuals in connection with cases against Islamic State cadre. The highest number of those arrested were from Uttar Pradesh, the Hindustan Times reported.
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