Five suspected ISIS operatives, who were arrested in a joint operation spread across different states, specialise in manufacturing chemical weapons and were running a "Khilafat" model to recruit youngsters for the organisation.
The accused were part of the sleeper module of the terror organisation and were tasked with making bombs, procuring weapons and increasing the strength of the organisation, the sources added.
The "Khilafat" model basically refers to occupying a place and then carrying out "jihad". The model was handled from Pakistan.
The arrests were made in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Telangana. Aftab and Abu Sufiyan, both residents of Mumbai, were arrested from Delhi's Nizamuddin railway station. Ashar Danish was arrested from Ranchi. Kamran Qureshi was arrested from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh, and Huzaif Yemen from Telangana.
The terrorists, the sources said, were in constant communication with their handlers in Pakistan through social media.
Danish, a post graduate in English who was the group's leader and went with a code name "Gazwa", disguised himself as a student and was caught during a raid at Tabarak lodge in Ranchi. Sources said he arrived in the city in January this year and is an expert in making bombs.
"A pistol and several digital devices were recovered from the accused. Danish is an expert in making chemical weapons. Items and chemicals used by them for the purpose were recovered from their possession," one of the sources said.
"It appears as though the group was assigned a major task," the source added.
A large amount of chemicals and weapons cartridges were recovered from their possession.
Among the chemicals recovered were hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sodium bicarbonate, sulphur powder, pH value checker and ball bearings.
Besides, a lap top, a mobile phone, weighing machine, beaker set, safety gloves, respiratory masks, a plastic container with a motherboard, wires, etc) were also recovered.
More suspects are being questioned, the sources said.
