NIA arrests two linked to IS group busted in March

National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arr ested two more people suspect ed to be closely linked to Islamic State’s self-radicalised group busted in March this year.

One of the arrested men, Mohammad Atif, is a cousin of Saifullah, the group’s main shooter and second in command. Saifullah was killed in Lucknow after a prolonged gunbattle with Anti-Terror Squad on March 7. The other one is Asif Iqbal, who allegedly had pledged allegiance to group’s emir Atif Muzaffar, is said to be privy to critical inputs the group executed and planned.

Both were arrested from Hotel Kanishka in Kanpur’s Rama Devi locality where they were called for a formal questioning. There were reports of NIA meeting some resistance from the family members of the duo who alleged they were being framed in the case.

The group mainly consisted of close relatives and friends was busted after a blast on board a passenger train near Bhopal, which led to arrest of Atif Muzaffar and two others. The ATS pinned Saifullah in a house in Lucknow while several other members were rounded up from other parts of the state.

The group had elaborate plans of carrying out attacks, including that on some prominent shrines such as in Deva Sharif in Barabanki and famous Imambaras in Lucknow.

Sources said Atif, who had earlier been questioned, was also arrested after the cops gathered enough technical evidences against him. He was allegedly involved in supply of arms and ammunition to the group.