NIA Captures Two ISIS Fugitives at Mumbai Airport in 2023 Pune IED Case

MUMBAI — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended two individuals linked to a sleeper cell of the banned terrorist group ISIS, marking a significant breakthrough in a 2023 case involving the creation and testing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Pune, Maharashtra. The arrests took place at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport T2, where the Bureau of Immigration intercepted the suspects as they attempted to re-enter India from Jakarta, Indonesia.

The detained individuals, identified as Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh, also known as Diaperwala, and Talha Khan, had been evading authorities for over two years. Both were wanted in connection with a criminal conspiracy involving eight other members of the ISIS Pune sleeper module, all of whom are currently in judicial custody. The NIA had previously issued non-bailable warrants for Shaikh and Khan through the NIA Special Court in Mumbai and offered a reward of ₹3 lakh each for information leading to their capture.

Investigations revealed that Shaikh and Khan were actively involved in assembling IEDs at a rented property in Pune’s Kondhwa area. Between 2022 and 2023, they organized and participated in a bomb-making and training workshop at the same location, where they conducted a controlled explosion to test a fabricated IED, the NIA reported. The agency had already filed a chargesheet against all 10 accused in the case, detailing their roles in the plot.

The NIA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS-related activities in India have intensified, with the agency focusing on thwarting the group’s violent and anti-national schemes. The arrests of Shaikh and Khan underscore the agency’s commitment to tracking down fugitives and disrupting terrorist networks operating within the country.