'Pak operative procured arms, ammunition, IEDs via drone drops': NIA raids 12 locations across 4 states in terror conspiracy case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted coordinated searches at 12 locations across four states in connection with a Pakistan-linked terror conspiracy involving drone-delivered arms and alleged plans to carry out blasts in multiple Indian cities, officials said.According to officials, the raids were carried out in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected cross-border terror network linked to Pakistani operative Jasvir Chaudhary.The searches covered five locations in Uttar Pradesh, three in Maharashtra, and two each in Bihar and Rajasthan. Officials said the raids targeted individuals suspected of acting as local supporters and facilitators for the terror module.The operation began early Friday morning and was still underway, according to news agency ANI.Drone-delivered arms, IEDs procured for attacksAccording to ANI, investigators said Jasvir Chaudhary, along with his Indian associates, allegedly procured a large consignment of arms, ammunition and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) through drone drops across the India-Pakistan border.According to officials, the weapons were intended for planned attacks in Punjab, Delhi and other parts of the country.The case was initially registered by Punjab Police after the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) received intelligence inputs on February 10 about the alleged terror plot.Officials said the information suggested that Chaudhary’s Indian associates had received arms and explosives through drones with the intention of carrying out coordinated IED blasts at multiple locations.Punjab Police subsequently registered FIR No. 09/2026 dated February 10, 2026. The case was later handed over to the NIA on March 21 due to its suspected international links and broader security implications.NIA probing wider terror networkOfficials believe the recovered explosives and weapons were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at triggering panic and large-scale damage.The use of drones for smuggling arms and explosives has emerged as a major security concern, especially along the India-Pakistan border, as it allows operatives to bypass traditional surveillance systems.The ongoing searches are aimed at uncovering the full extent of the terror network, including logistical support systems, local operatives and possible sleeper cells linked to the conspiracy.In a separate development earlier this week on Tuesday, the NIA has also filed a chargesheet against nine accused, including two Pakistani nationals, in connection with the November 2025 grenade attack on the women police station in Sirsa, Haryana.The accused include Pakistani handlers Shahzad Bhatti and Sohail Ahmad alias Sohail Baloch, along with several Indian operatives. According to the agency, they have been charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosive Substances Act.The NIA said the Sirsa attack was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti to target police establishments in India and spread terror.Also read: Operation Sindoor fallout: Delhi police embed covert counter-terror units in every police station