9 Al-Qaeda operatives arrested by NIA in raids conducted in West Bengal, Kerala. Full list

In a statement released by NIA citing the preliminary investigation, it is stated that these men held were radicalised by Pakistan-based al Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including the National Capital Region.

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested nine al Qaeda operatives after raids conducted at multiple locations in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Ernakulam in Kerala.

File photo

In a statement, NIA said these men held were radicalised by Pakistan-based al Qaeda module on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including the National Capital Region (NCR).

The investigative agency said that the module was actively indulging in fundraising and a few members of the gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. The arrest of nine operatives, NIA said, has pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.

NIA said it has also seized a large number of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices.

Here is the list of men arrested by NIA:

Arrests from Ernakulam, Kerala:

1. Murshid Hasan

Murshid is the leader of Al-Qaeda module. (Source: NIA)

2. Iyakub Biswas

3. Mosaraf Hossen

Arrests from West Bengal’s Murshidabad:

1. Najmus Sakib

2. Abu Sufiyan

3. Mainul Mondal

4. Leu Yean Ahmed

5. Al Mamun Kamal

6. Atitur Rehman