HYDERABAD: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted an extensive search operation at a residential apartment in Shankeshwar Bazar, Saidabad, Hyderabad, on Sunday. The search is directly linked to the recent arrest of Rizwan Ali, a suspected member of the international terrorist organization ISIS, known for his expertise in explosives. Rizwan, a Delhi-based operative, was apprehended on August 9 by the Delhi Special Cell and is believed to have been plotting attacks across multiple Indian cities.
The raid on Green View Apartments in Shankeshwar Bazar was a follow-up to Rizwan’s interrogation after his August arrest. During questioning, Rizwan disclosed details of his stay in Hyderabad, revealing that he had been residing at the apartment for nearly six months under the guise of a cloth merchant. He maintained a low profile while plotting terror activities.
The NIA, accompanied by Rizwan, searched the apartment for evidence related to his time in hiding. The agency suspects that Rizwan had connections with absconding terrorist Farhatullah Ghori, a Hyderabad native, who has been on the NIA’s radar for several years. Ghori, who has been operating from abroad, is believed to have guided Rizwan in his activities, including renting the Saidabad apartment.
Rizwan Ali joined ISIS in 2015-16 after completing his degree, reportedly becoming part of a growing recruitment network. He came into contact with Shahnawaz, a Jharkhand native, in 2017. Shahnawaz was an influential ISIS recruiter, actively working to expand the terror organization’s reach across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
Shahnawaz’s ISIS module came under the scanner of Pune Police in June 2023, leading to the arrest of several individuals involved. Rizwan, however, evaded capture and went underground, hiding in the Sambhal region of Uttar Pradesh. The NIA, following a trail of intelligence, had placed a Rs 3 lakh bounty on Rizwan’s head. Though he managed to escape a raid in January 2024, he resurfaced in Hyderabad in March, taking shelter in Saidabad.
