Two ISIS Fugitives Nabbed at Mumbai Airport in NIA's Major Anti-Terror Crackdown
In a decisive operation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two wanted ISIS operatives&mdash;Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh Diaperwala and Talha Khan&mdash;at Mumbai&rsquo;s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Acting on a tip-off, immigration officials intercepted the duo at Terminal 2 upon their arrival from Jakarta, Indonesia, where they had been hiding for over two years.
Both men were immediately taken into custody by NIA officers. They had been declared fugitives and were the subjects of non-bailable warrants issued by the NIA Special Court, Mumbai. A reward of ₹3 lakh each had been announced for credible information leading to their arrest.
The arrests are linked to the 2023 Pune ISIS conspiracy case, in which the two men, along with eight others, are accused of forming a sleeper cell aligned with the Islamic State&rsquo;s agenda. The group allegedly conspired to wage war against the Indian government and disrupt communal harmony through planned acts of terror.
Investigations revealed that Abdullah had rented a property in Kondhwa, Pune, which served as a clandestine site for assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Between 2022 and 2023, the accused also conducted bomb-making workshops and carried out a controlled explosion to test one of the IEDs they had fabricated.
The NIA has already chargesheeted the arrested duo alongside others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The sleeper module, comprising ten individuals, was deeply entrenched in ISIS&rsquo;s ideology and was reportedly plotting attacks to destabilise the country. Those already in judicial custody include Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam.
Investigations are ongoing, with the NIA reaffirming its resolve to dismantle all ISIS-linked networks operating in India.
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NIA arrests two key ISIS operatives returning from Indonesia in 2023 Pune IED plot case

ISIS Fugitives Caught at Mumbai Airport by NIA

NIA arrests two key ISIS operatives returning from Indonesia in 2023 Pune IED plot case

May 17, 2025 | 22:08 IST

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