14 day remand for all 5 IS suspects

​Hyderabad: The five IS suspects held by the National Investigation Agency on charges of conspiring to carry out attacks in Hyderabad have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by the Fourth Metropolitan Sessions Court at Nampally on Thursday.

All the five suspects Mohammad Ibrahim Yazdani (29), his younger brother Mohammed Eliyas Yazdani (24) along with Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amodi alias Fahad (30), Mohammad Irfan alias Yaqaus (27) and Habeeb Mohammad (32), were produced in the court amidst heavy bandobust.

The agency filed a petition in the court seeking custody of the suspects for further investigation, but the court adjourned the arguments to Friday, and the accused were shifted to the Cherlapally Central Prison.

The NIA, assisted by the city police, had picked up 11 persons from several parts of the Old City on Wednesday. However, the agency arrested only five persons and released the others after questioning.

The agency in a note said that they seized firearms, ammunition, explosive-making precursor chemicals, digital exhibits and Rs 15 lakh in cash during raids on various premises in the Old City.

“The seizure includes chemicals suspected to be urea/ ammonium nitrate powder and their mixture with sugar, as well as bottles containing mineral acid, ccetone, and hydrogen peroxide which are precursor substances for making deadly explosive substances.

Two semi-automatic pistols with ammunition have been recovered during the search,” the NIA said. An airgun with telescopic sight and shooting practice target boards were also seized during searches.

In addition those, a large number of digital items, including six laptops, about 40 mobile phones, 32 SIM cards, and a large number of hard disks, memory cards, pendrives, and digital tabs have been recovered, it informed the court.

During preliminary investigation, the agency found that the terror suspects had plans to carry out attacks at various places in Hyderabad and Cyberabad. The agency also suspected that the arrested accused might have planned to carry out a mass shooting, for which they could be doing firing practice.

The agency informed that the accused were arrested under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Act.

Speaking to The Hans India, Gulam Rabbani, a member of the counsel of the accused and junior advocate of Md Azeem said, “The police have arrested the accused and produced in the MSJ Court. Arguments on the police custody petition will be held tomorrow (Friday).”

There were reports that the accused had plans to carry out blasts at some religious places in the city and also at some shopping malls located in the IT corridor. However, police in the twin commissionerates denied the news and said they were alert.

“There are certain messages floating in social media about threat to public safety and security. The information being circulated in social media are all rumours and are found to be false.

All necessary security and bandobust arrangements have been made in Hyderabad by police to maintain peace and public order. Law and order situation is peaceful. People of Hyderabad and Cyberabad are requested not to believe rumours,” the twin police commissioners informed media.