In its sixth arrest in the ISIS Maharashtra module case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday took into custody one Aakif Ateeque Nachan for his involvement in the fabrication and testing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for commission of terrorist acts and arranging a hideout for two other terror operatives.
 
Aakif was found actively involved in promotion of the terror-related activities of the ISIS, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, in collaboration with four other accused, namely Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki and Abdul Kadir Pathan (all arrested recently by ATS Pune), along with some other suspects. Imran Khan and Mohammed Yunus Saki, members of ‘Sufa terrorist gang’ were absconding and had been declared ‘most wanted’ by the NIA in a case relating to recovery of explosives from a car in Rajasthan in April 2022.
 
The NIA nabbed Aakif after a series of raids in Borivali, Tehsil Bhivandi in Thane. Several incriminating materials, such as electronic gadgets and documents, etc., were also seized during the raids.
 
As per NIA investigations, the accused had planned to commit terrorist acts to disturb the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, and wage a war against the Government of India.