In a significant development, Karnataka Police has joined forces with Delhi Police following the apprehension of three individuals believed to be associated with a suspected Islamic State (IS) group. The arrests, carried out by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, have raised concerns about potential terrorist activities allegedly supported by Pakistan’s ISI.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shahnawaz, Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf, and Mohammad Arshad Warsi. Shahnawaz, who had a bounty of ₹3 lakh on his head, was apprehended in South Delhi.

Renuka Sukumar, the Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad Police, stated, “We are in constant touch with Delhi Police. As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding the suspects’ affiliation with or training in this region of Karnataka. We are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining vigilance to address such activities.”

During initial interrogations, authorities discovered that the suspects had conducted extensive ground surveillance, including areas in the Western Ghats, cities like Hubballi and Dharwad in Southern India, and even as far as Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Their primary objective appeared to be identifying secure hideout locations.

In response to media inquiries, it was revealed that Shahnawaz, one of the arrested individuals, is a mining engineer from Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology. His wife, Basanti Patel, converted to Islam and is now known as Mariam.

All three suspected terrorists have been produced before the court and have been remanded to 14 days of police custody.

Notably, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier unveiled the visual identities of four individuals sought for their alleged involvement in an ISIS-affiliated module based in Pune. To expedite their capture, the agency announced a financial reward of ₹3 lakh for each individual, ensuring the confidentiality of informants.

During the investigation, it was revealed that a foreign-based handler may have connected Shahnawaz with two other terror operatives, instructing them to carry out a potential terror strike. The joint efforts of Karnataka Police and Delhi Police aim to unravel the full extent of this network and ensure the safety and security of the region.