Pune, July 19: In a significant breakthrough, the Pune police apprehended two wanted terrorists associated with ISIS-inspired terror group 'Sufa'.

 

Reports suggest that the incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 18, 2023, at approximately 2:45 am. They were arrested after police stopped three individuals who were trying to steal bike. When they tried to escape but police managed to capture two of the fleeing individuals, but one managed to escape.

 

 

During the investigation, officials discovered significant evidence. Among the items seized were a live round, four mobile phones, and a laptop. These findings indicate the potential involvement of the arrested individuals in more serious criminal activities.

 

Further investigation into the matter revealed the identities of the apprehended suspects as Imran Khan and Md. Yunus Saki, both residents of Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh. It has come to light that both individuals were wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had placed a reward of 5 lakhs on their arrest.

 

 

Notably, the NIA has attached a poultry farm in Madhya Pradesh, which was used by members of an ISIS-inspired terror group ‘Sufa’ in connection with a conspiracy to perpetrate acts of terror in Rajasthan, the agency said on Tuesday.

 

The anti-terror agency attached the property on Monday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. The property is located in village Julwaniya, Viryakhedi Road, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh.

 

As per the NIA, the property was owned by accused Imran Khan and was used by ‘Sufa’ members for radicalizing new cadres and training them in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

 

 

The NIA had filed a chargesheet against Imran Khan and 10 other accused persons on September 22 last year, and it had recovered explosives and components used in fabrication of IEDs etc from the possession of the accused persons.

The NIA had earlier registered a case against ‘Sufa’, a newly formed local terror group, in April 2022, in connection with ‘Sufa’s criminal conspiracy to plan and carry out terrorist acts in Rajasthan.

 

The NIA investigations have revealed that ‘Sufa’ was deeply inspired by the activities of ISIS and was inclined toward the Jihadi ideology. "Members of ‘Sufa’ had motivated other youth of the area also to join this group for carrying out terror acts. Investigations in the case are continuing," said the NIA.