5 ISIS Suspects Arrested in India Raids

Introduction

Delhi Police’s Special Cell, with support from central agencies, dismantled an ISIS-inspired terror module in coordinated raids across multiple states on September 9–10, 2025. Five individuals were arrested, including the alleged kingpin Ashar Danish, described by investigators as the “Professor” for his knowledge of chemical bomb-making.

Key Facts

The suspects were identified as:

• Ashar Danish (aliases “CEO”, “Gazba”, “Professor”) from Ranchi — alleged mastermind. Reports differ on his educational background, with some citing him as a postgraduate in English, others as a graduate in English.
• Abu Bakr alias Sufiyan and Aftab, arrested from Mumbai.
• Huzaifa Yaman (also reported as Yemen), from Nizamabad in Telangana. Some reports suggest he is a student, though his age and academic details are not independently confirmed.
• Kamran Qureshi, arrested from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh. His role and background remain under investigation.

Operation Details

The coordinated raids spanned Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana after six months of surveillance. Police said the group operated under a “Khilafat model” to establish an ISIS-style caliphate in India, with plans to launch “Ghazwa-e-Hind” jihadist attacks.

Investigators revealed that the suspects communicated with Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram, and underwent online training in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) assembly.

Seized Materials

During the raids, authorities recovered:

• Chemicals including sodium bicarbonate, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sulfur powder
• Ball bearings and electronic components used for IED fabrication
• Weapons and sharp-edged arms
• Digital devices with radical content and bomb-making instructions

Officials described the cache as resembling a “classroom of bombs.”

Background of the Module

The arrested men aligned themselves with ISIS’s Ghazwa-e-Hind narrative, aimed at targeted killings and mass-casualty strikes. The group followed a two-tier model: first forming a Lashkar-style Khilafat unit, then escalating into violent jihad operations under ISIS influence.

Official Statements

Additional Commissioner of Police Pramod Kushwaha stated:

“The group was working on a two-fold plan—first to form a Lashkar-style Khilafat group, then to execute Ghazwa-e-Hind-style jihadist operations.”

A senior officer added the cell had been under close watch for months and was planning a major terror attack.

Conclusion

The arrests represent a significant counter-terrorism success, preventing what officials warned could have been a large-scale strike. The operation highlights the persistence of ISIS-inspired sleeper cells in India and the importance of sustained vigilance.