Special NIA court indicts nine in Vijayawada cyber terror plot

The National Investigation Agency presented indictment papers against nine alleged conspirators in a cyber‑terrorism case before a designated NIA court in Vijayawada. The accused—Mohammad Rahmatullah Sharif, Mohammad Danish, Mirza Sohel Beg, Lucky Ahmed, Jishan Abdul Majid, Mir Asif Ali, Abdul Salam, Shah Rukh Khan and Sheikh Faizur Rahman—are suspected of being part of the Islamic State network.

Charges are framed under IPC sections 61(2) and 3(5), section 152, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act's sections 13(1), 38 and 39. The investigation, which began on 23 March 2026 at Vijayawada II Town Police Station, also invoked provisions of the IT Act 2000 (section 66F) and several other UAPA clauses.

According to the NIA, the suspects orchestrated an online extremist campaign on platforms such as Instagram, aiming to foment violent jihad and destabilise India’s sovereignty. They allegedly recruited naïve youngsters, arranged weapons training, and engineered the production of explosive devices. A prototype encrypted messaging app was reportedly built to facilitate covert coordination.

Eleven individuals, including a minor who resisted law enforcement, are currently in custody. The probe into further suspects is still underway.