The National Investigation Agency conducted searches across 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in connection with its probe into the new module called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam' and detained 16 suspects, out of which 10 were arrested after questioning, NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal said.
The IG said the module was in touch with foreign handlers, whose identity is yet to be established.
"Searches were carried out in Delhi's Seelampur locality, UP's Lucknow, Amroha and Hapur districts where a huge quantity of explosives, a country-made rocket launcher, 100 mobiles and 135 SIM cards were recovered," he said.
The NIA source said that questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers.
"The level of preparation suggested they were planning to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen (suicide) attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent," Mittal said.
Five people were picked up from the western Uttar Pradesh district of Amroha following a joint operation with the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, and five from the national capital. The group was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of their suspicious activities.
An official told IANS a state-wide alert has been sounded after information was received about the presence of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa holed up somewhere in Amroha.