ATS arrests third suspect with links to Parbhani ISIS module

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested a third Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) sympathsier for his alleged links to the Parbhani

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested a third Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) sympathsier for his alleged links to the Parbhani ISIS module.

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The anti-terror agency had previously arrested two other suspects from Parbhani, who had plans to carry out strikes in Marathwada.

ATS sources said they have arrested Iqbal Ahmed Kabir Ahmed, 28, from Guljar colony near Noor-Ul-Quran Masjid in Parbhani after his name came up while questioning the two other suspects.

The ATS had earlier arrested Naser Bin Yafai Chaus — a civil contractor from Parbhani — on July 14 and Shahid Khan on July 24.

According to ATS sources, Iqbal was also involved in the planning and the trio had conducted a recce of the Aurangabad police headquarters and a senior police officer’s residence.

Iqbal was working in a mobile shop in Parbhani.

ATS investigators said Chaus was in touch with one Faroque from Syria on various social networking sites.

He had also created multiple IDs for various chat rooms used by the foreign handlers of ISIS.

Farooque sent him a few links that helped him prepare the bomb. He had been on the anti-terror agency’s radar for more than a year.

Iqbal’s name had come up earlier as well and he had been questioned by the agency, but allowed to go.

Sources said he was arrested only after the ATS found evidence of his involvement.