In a significant development for national security, Delhi Police have made a breakthrough arrest in the ongoing fight against terrorism. Shahnawaz, a suspect on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) most wanted list, has been arrested and is currently under questioning. 

The arrest was carried out by the Special Cell division of Delhi Police. Shahnawaz, who is an engineer by profession, had a bounty of ₹3 lakhs for any information that could lead to his capture. He was being actively sought in relation to the ISIS case in Pune, with his arrest marking an important victory in maintaining regional security. 

Post arrest, the Delhi Police Special Cell recovered incriminating materials including items suspected to be used in IED fabrication, images of certain locations, and foreign-based handlers were believed to have been instructing the module, planning to execute terror incidents in North India. The suspect, a 32-year-old engineer, managed to evade police capture in Pune earlier, triggering a cross-state manhunt. To date, three individuals, Shahnawaz alias Shafi Uzzama inclusive, have been arrested in relation to this case. 

Pune ISIS Case 

As reported by officials, Shahnawaz, along with Mohammad Imran Mohammad Yunus Khan and Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yakub Saki, attempted to steal a two-wheeler and were arrested by the Kothrud police in Pune on July 18. Khan and Saki, originally from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, were also implicated in a separate terrorism case in Rajasthan, where explosives were recovered from a car in March 2022. Both suspects carry a bounty of ₹5 lakh each.

An extensive search was initiated when Shahnawaz beat a daring escape by jumping from the police vehicle en route to Kothrud. Various agencies, including the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency, were involved in the subsequent investigation and manhunt.

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