Maharashtra News: Security Tightened In Bhiwandi's Padgha After Death Of Alleged ISIS India Head Saquib Nachan

Following the death of Saquib Nachan — alleged head of the so-called Islamic State's (ISIS) India operations and a former office-bearer of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) — in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday, security has been tightened in the Padgha-Borivli area of Bhiwandi.

More than 100 police personnel, including Thane rural police, have been deployed in the area. Police sources said that security vans and officers have been stationed at key intersections throughout Padgha. " Vehicles are being thoroughly checked, and individuals who are unfamiliar with the locality are being questioned as a preventive measure" Sources said.

The heightened security aims to maintain law and order and to prevent any potential unrest in the wake of Nachan’s death.

Security arrangements had already been in place in Padgha since Nachan was admitted to Hospital on June 25. Following his death, additional police personnel were mobilized from Thane Rural to strengthen the security presence.

Following the death news of Nachan, the grief was widespread among the people of Padgha Borivali. The sources said that the body is expected to reach Padgha village by Sunday for final rites.

Nachan had been in judicial custody at Delhi's Tihar Jail since 2023, after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with an alleged ISIS module operating across Delhi and Maharashtra’s Padgha region. He was hospitalized on Tuesday after his health deteriorated in custody.

Doctors diagnosed him with a brain haemorrhage shortly after his admission. He remained under observation for four days before his condition worsened and he passed away early Saturday.

Nachan was a prominent figure in SIMI during the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the organization was banned in 2001 for alleged anti-national activities