Telangana Police Foil ISIS-Linked Bomb Plot in Hyderabad; Two Arrested
In a major breakthrough, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh police have thwarted an ISIS-linked bomb plot in Hyderabad, arresting two operatives who allegedly planned a dummy blast in the city.
The Counter Intelligence Unit of Telangana Police, in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Intelligence, carried out a successful operation leading to the arrest of two terror suspects — Siraj from Vizianagaram and Sameer from Hyderabad. The duo was reportedly working under the guidance of an ISIS module operating out of Saudi Arabia.
Siraj is believed to have procured explosive materials in Vizianagaram to carry out a “dummy blast” as a precursor to a larger attack. The plan was intercepted before any explosion could take place, officials said.
Initial investigations reveal that the suspects were radicalised online and maintained encrypted communication with foreign handlers. Intelligence officials confirmed that instructions were being issued remotely by ISIS operatives based in Saudi Arabia.
“We are in the process of interrogating the accused and verifying their communications. So far, preliminary evidence suggests a well-structured plan was in place to test and later execute an attack,” said a senior Telangana Police official on condition of anonymity.
This development comes amid heightened security nationwide following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir last month. Security agencies have since launched widespread operations across several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Jammu and Kashmir.
On Friday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 15 locations in Punjab linked to gangster Happy Passian, an associate of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. The raids were related to a December 2023 grenade attack on a Gurdaspur police station.
Security experts view these developments as part of a growing pattern of hybrid terrorism, where terror networks use digital communication and remote operatives to radicalise and mobilise local recruits.
A senior intelligence official noted, “Groups like ISIS are adapting rapidly, using minimal resources and online influence to orchestrate potentially devastating attacks. The foiling of this plot is a timely reminder of the threat landscape.”
