In a significant breakthrough, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police apprehended Shahnawaz, a suspected ISIS terrorist, shedding light on a series of startling revelations. The arrest not only exposed his sinister plans but also uncovered the conversion of his wife, Basanti Patel, to Islam. Moreover, it was disclosed that Shahnawaz was a highly educated individual, holding a degree in mining engineering from the prestigious Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology.
The operation that led to Shahnawaz’s arrest took place in Jaitpur, South Delhi, with two other individuals also apprehended, both of whom were wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Addressing a press briefing, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HS Dhaliwal provided insight into the case. He stated, “Last month, the NIA declared a reward for three individuals allegedly involved in various blast cases. Among them, Mohammad Shahnawaz, the prime suspect, was apprehended along with his associates, Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf and Mohammad Arshad Warsi.”
Ashraf was apprehended in Lucknow, while Arshad was nabbed in Moradabad, according to Dhaliwal. During the operation, incriminating materials, including bomb-making literature believed to be sent from handlers based in Pakistan, were seized from Shahnawaz’s hideouts. Dhaliwal elaborated, “We recovered several explosives-making materials, such as elementary, plastic tubes, and iron pipes, along with a pistol, cartridges, and bomb-making literature sent from handlers in Pakistan.”
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Investigations have unveiled that these suspects conducted extensive reconnaissance in several locations, including Western Ghats, Southern India, Hubbali, Dharwad, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, as they sought to establish their hideouts and execute their nefarious plans.
In response to media inquiries, Dhaliwal revealed a shocking aspect of Shahnawaz’s life: “Shahnawaz is a mining engineer from Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology. His wife, Basanti Patel, has converted to Islam and now goes by the name Mariam.”
The three wanted suspected terrorists have been presented before the court and have been remanded in police custody for seven days. Last month, the NIA had released photographs of four terror suspects, including Shahnawaz, linked to the Pune ISIS module case, offering a reward of Rs 3 lakh each for credible information leading to their capture. The agency assures that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
Shahnawaz’s encounter with the law was not his first. He was briefly apprehended by Pune Police on the night of July 17-18 while attempting to steal a motorcycle in the Kothrud area of Pune. Subsequent investigations revealed that a foreign-based handler had potentially connected Shahnawaz with two other terror operatives, providing them with instructions for a sinister plot.
