The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a massive operation, raiding 21 locations across five Indian states—Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—along with the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials revealed on Tuesday. The coordinated searches, conducted on Monday, targeted a sinister terror conspiracy involving the Islamic State (ISIS) and other banned terrorist organizations, aiming to disrupt their plans to destabilize India.

The NIA, which assumed control of the case from Kayar police in Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district in June, seized a trove of evidence during the raids. Among the items recovered were numerous digital devices, including mobile phones, and incriminating documents that shed light on the plot’s scale. The investigation centers on Akhlathur, alias Mohammed Akhlque Mujahid, a key suspect arrested for allegedly orchestrating terrorist acts in India.

According to the NIA, Akhlathur was not acting alone. His network extended beyond India’s borders, with connections to operatives in Pakistan and Syria. The conspiracy involved recruiting individuals and gathering resources to wage jihad against India, in collaboration with proscribed terror groups. The NIA uncovered evidence that the accused leveraged social media platforms to communicate with these outfits, coordinating their efforts to execute attacks.

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The raids mark a significant step in dismantling the terror network, with the seized materials providing critical leads. The NIA continues to probe the depth of the conspiracy, focusing on identifying additional conspirators and their plans to disrupt national security. This operation underscores India’s resolve to combat terrorism and prevent extremist ideologies from taking root.

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