The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out coordinated searches at 20 locations, including in Telangana, and the Union Territory of Delhi, as part of its investigation into a case of online terror radicalisation network linked to the banned terrorist organisations ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

According to the NIA, the case relates to a conspiracy to establish an Islamic state in India through jihad by promoting the ideology of ISIS and AQIS and targeting the country’s democratically elected government.

Searches were conducted in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi as part of the ongoing investigation. During the raids, the agency seized several digital devices, which will be sent for forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

The agency said 11 accused and one juvenile have been arrested so far in the case, which it took over from the Vijayawada police in May this year.

The case was initially registered by the Vijayawada police in March after a search at the residence of the prime accused, Rehmatullah Sharif Mohammad, led to the recovery of incriminating material linked to the banned organisations ISIS and AQIS.

According to the NIA, Wednesday’s searches were based on technical analysis of digital devices seized earlier, connectivity analysis of the arrested accused and other evidence gathered during the investigation.

The investigation is continuing to identify other individuals involved in the conspiracy, the NIA said.

Published - July 08, 2026 09:14 pm IST