The National Investigation Agency (NIA) successfully arrested a significant absconding terror conspirator affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) at Delhi Airport. The apprehended individual, identified as Arafath Ali, had been evading capture since 2020. He was accused of engaging in IS propaganda activities and conspiring to commit terrorist acts. Ali had resided abroad and worked towards advancing the anti-India terror agenda of the IS. Hailing from the Shivamogga district, Ali played an active role in identifying, radicalizing, and recruiting susceptible Muslim youth to join the IS. Ali’s involvement in the Shivamogga terror conspiracy case became apparent, where an IED explosion took place accidentally in an autorickshaw while Mohamed Shariq, another accused, was en route to plant a pressure cooker IED at Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangaluru. NIA’s investigation unveiled Ali’s coordination with other suspects, demonstrating his active participation in planning and executing the conspiracy. The agency also discovered Ali’s responsibility for the two graffiti incidents in Mangaluru in 2020. Under Ali’s instructions, Mohamed Shariq and Maaz Muneer Ahmed had written provocative messages on walls, implying potential involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Taliban. The investigation into the case remains ongoing, as the NIA aims to apprehend all individuals connected to the IS terror network.