Nine held in Maharashtra for links with ISIS

In a major swoop ahead of the Republic Day festivities, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police arrested eight youths and detained a minor for alleged links with outlawed IS and plot to create terror attacks.

The arrests were made from Aurangabad and Mumbra in Thane district on Monday and Tuesday, top officials of the ATS said.

"On receipt of a very reliable input about a group aligned with the proscribed international terrorist organisation IS, ATS mounted watch on the suspects and gathered all relevant information about the members of the group for several weeks. When it was revealed that the group is likely to swing into action, the ATS formed about a dozen teams and carried out well-equipped searches and seizures at five different locations in Thane and Aurangabad," the officials said.

Certain chemicals, powder, mobile phones, hard drives SIM cards, acid bottle, sharp knives have been seized by ATS, which are being sent for examination.

They have been booked under 120 (B) of Indian Penal Code of sections 19,20, 38,39 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, and section 135 Bombay Police Act.

The arrests followed searches in Amrut Nagar, Kausa, Moti Baug and Almas Colony areas in Thane's Mumbra township and in Aurangabad's Kaisar Colony, Rahat Colony and Damdi Mahal.