Agencies thwart ISIS plot of 40 simultaneous drone attacks

These alleged terrorist attacks were likely to coincide with the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

In what has set off alarm bells across agencies dealing with maintaining the security apparatus in the country, the interrogation of the highly radicalised members working under the flag of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who were arrested in the second week of December, has allegedly revealed the plan to execute drone bombing at 40 places simultaneously in Mumbai in the month of January.

These alleged terrorist attacks were likely to coincide with the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Sources told The Sunday Guardian that the targets that included prominent offices and popular places were already identified by the accused who are now in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

If this alleged plan had been executed, then it would have been the first instance of unmanned aerial vehicles being used in India as a tool to target citizens with the intention to spread terror. To be sure, drones have been used by Pakistan-based terror groups and criminals to drop drugs and other banned material into India and in a few instances, they have also been used to target military installations.

It is pertinent to mention that the Hamas had used the same method on 7 October to wreak havoc on the Israeli defence system. Using commercial drones, the Hamas dropped explosives on the security observation towers, disrupting Israel’s sensors, communications, and weapons systems.

Maharashtra-based sources aware of the development told The Sunday Guardian that one of the 15 accused arrested in the case by the NIA on 9 December, has voluntarily disclosed this terror plot to the investigators, which has now been made a part of the court documents and is likely to be added in the charge-sheet that will be filed by the NIA in the case in the coming months.