ATS, Pune cops search a number of areas throughout metropolis primarily based on probe into 2023 IS module case; 19 quizzed, digital devices & paperwork seized | Pune Information

Pune: State ATS and Pune Police on Thursday collectively carried out searches at a number of areas within the metropolis’s Kondhwa, Khadak, Khadki, Wanowrie and Bhosari areas following intelligence inputs about “anti-national activity”. In Kondhwa alone, 19 homes have been searched within the pre-dawn coordinated train involving numerous safety personnel.The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) subsequently launched a short assertion mentioning that the train resulted from the investigation into the 2023 Pune ISIS module case during which 11 folks have been arrested on the suspicion of being a part of or linked with an ISIS sleeper cell working in Maharashtra. Some personnel from central companies additionally accompanied the search groups.The groups questioned 19 folks and claimed to have seized digital devices and incriminating paperwork. “As of now, we won’t be able to specify the content and the type of documents seized,” ATS Pune’s superintendent of police (SP) Jayant Meena advised TOI.The searches started in Kondhwa and different areas round 3:30am amid heavy police bandobust to keep away from any untoward fallout. The ATS group searched the homes and places of work that figured within the intelligence inputs. The operations continued until late afternoon. “The identity and background of the residents at the raided premises were thoroughly verified,” an ATS officer advised TOI.Till the time of going to press on Thursday, the ATS had not confirmed any arrests associated to the search operations.The metropolis police’s crime department offered bandobust through the raids. “Police teams were deployed at all the spots where the searches were carried out. Also, police personnel were stationed on the main road in Kondhwa. The ATS teams have seized several documents and electronic gadgets such as laptops and cellphones. The seized material was carried from Kondhwa in five mini-buses,” against the law department officer mentioned.Besides Kondhwa, the ATS additionally carried out searches in a flat at Moshi within the Pimpri Chinchwad space and detained an individual for questioning. “The person recently took the flat on rent. The ATS seized some documents, a laptop and a cellphone from the flat,” an officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad crime department mentioned.The ISIS Pune Module CaseIn the early hours of July 18, 2023, Kothrud police constables Amol Najan and Pradip Chavan had nabbed three males on the suspicion of car theft. The trio, Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam (31) of Jharkhand, Mohammed Yusuf Khan (25) and Mohammed Yunus Mohammed Yakub Saki (27), each from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, have been discovered to be dwelling in Kondhwa and claimed that they have been working as graphic designers. When the three males have been being taken for a home search in Kondhwa, Alam escaped. He was later arrested by the Delhi Police in Oct 2023.The home search had led to the seizure of some white powder, a pistol pouch and a stay cartridge. Investigations confirmed that Khan and Saki have been members of the ISIS-inspired group Sufa and have been “most wanted” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case referring to the seizure of explosives from a automobile in Rajasthan in March 2022. The ATS took over the investigations from the Pune metropolis police on July 22, 2023.It was subsequently confirmed that the white powder seized from the accused by the police in Kondhwa was an explosive substance. The ATS additionally claimed to have seized bomb-making materials from the flat. Later, three extra folks have been arrested on the cost of offering shelter and funds to the duo. A medical practitioner from Kondhwa was later arrested in reference to the case. The investigation was handed over to the NIA on Aug 8, 2023.The investigations by NIA and ATS revealed that Saki, Alam, and yet another accused, had in April 2023 robbed a store proprietor from Satara of Rs 1 lakh at gunpoint. They needed cash for terror funding and buying materials for making bombs, the probe revealed. The NIA has since arrested 11 males in reference to the ISIS Pune module case. All the accused have been chargesheeted by NIA below varied sections of UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and IPC.