In a significant counter-terrorism breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested two key ISIS-linked fugitives, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Khan, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The duo, evading arrest for over two years, was intercepted by immigration authorities at Terminal 2 upon arrival from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Their arrests are connected to the 2023 ISIS sleeper cell case (RC-05/2023/NIA/MUM) in Pune, where a group of radicalized operatives allegedly conspired to destabilize India through terrorist activities. According to the NIA, Shaikh and Khan, along with eight other accused already in judicial custody, had assembled improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and conducted training sessions and controlled blasts in a rented house in Pune’s Kondhwa area during 2022 and 2023.
The case marks one of the most serious ISIS-related domestic threats uncovered in recent years. Non-bailable warrants had been issued against the fugitives by the NIA Special Court in Mumbai, with a cash reward of ₹3 lakh offered for information leading to their arrest.
Among the others chargesheeted in the case are Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam. The charges include violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code.
The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the NIA’s expanded mandate under the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019, which allows the agency to investigate terror-related offenses committed outside Indian territory, subject to international laws and cooperation.
This latest development underscores the enduring threat posed by ISIS sleeper cells and the need for constant vigilance. The NIA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and preventing India from becoming a target of transnational extremist conspiracies.
