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Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1991 or 1992

Age31–32 (as of 2023)

BirthplacePelawal, Hazaribagh district (now in Jharkhand)

ProfessionMining Engineer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKhadeeja Maryam

FamilyFather was headmaster of an Urdu middle school in Hazaribagh

Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist) Biography

Mohammad Shahnawaz Alam is an Indian mining engineer who was identified by investigators as a key figure in an Islamic State-linked module operating in the

Early life and background

Mohammad Shahnawaz Alam was born in the early 1990s in Pelawal village in Hazaribagh district, then part of Bihar and now in Jharkhand. His father served as the headmaster of an Urdu middle school in Hazaribagh. Shahnawaz completed his schooling in Jharkhand before moving to prepare for engineering entrance exams, including a period of coaching in Kota. He earned a Bachelor of Technology in Mining Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, in 2016.

Career

By training Shahnawaz is a mining engineer. After finishing his formal education in 2016 he relocated to Jamia Nagar in New Delhi and prepared for government service examinations. During this period he attended lectures associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir at Shaheen Bagh, and later became involved with online material and channels associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Investigators report that Shahnawaz developed contacts with handlers abroad via social media and messaging platforms while in Delhi. He subsequently moved to Pune, Maharashtra, where authorities say he played an active role in recruiting young people for ISIS and established training activities in forested areas. Those training activities are reported to have included instruction in handling firearms and the construction and testing of improvised explosive devices.

Legal issues and arrest

Law-enforcement agencies in India opened investigations into Shahnawaz’s activities after arrests linked to the Pune-related module. In July 2023 Pune police detained him and two associates in what initially appeared to be a motorcycle-theft matter; he escaped custody by jumping from a moving police vehicle. Further inquiry revealed connections between the detainees and an overseas handler, and the case expanded into a counterterrorism investigation.

Security agencies seized explosive materials and large amounts of digital data from his residence in Pune. In September 2023 the National Investigation Agency (NIA) published his details and placed a cash reward on his capture. Multiple raids followed in several states as investigators sought to apprehend him and others associated with the network.

In October 2023 law-enforcement authorities arrested Shahnawaz in Jaitpur, New Delhi, alongside two other suspects. Investigators reported that materials recovered from him included a firearm, ammunition, pipes, timing devices, chemicals and other items that authorities said could be used in bomb-making, and that he had conducted reconnaissance of potential targets.

Public profile

Shahnawaz has been identified by authorities under several aliases, including Shafi Ujjama Alam, Shafiuzamma Alam and Abdulla. Physical details reported by investigators list his height around 1.68 m (5'6") and weight about 60 kg (132 lbs), with dark brown eyes and black hair. Records show his religion as Islam and his nationality as Indian. His hometown is given as Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, and addresses connected to him include residential locations in the Kondhwa area of Pune.

Personal life

Shahnawaz is married. Reports state his spouse is named Khadeeja Maryam, who was known by a different name prior to marriage. The marriage reportedly took place in 2021 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Latest updates

Authorities have described Shahnawaz as having a role in a Pune-based ISIS module and connected him to efforts to expand the group’s presence and operational capabilities in India. Investigations revealed alleged communication with an individual identified as a handler with a history linked to past attacks, and authorities have said they recovered materials and digital files related to improvised explosive devices.

Following his arrest in October 2023, law-enforcement agencies have continued investigations into the network and the scope of activities attributed to those detained.
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Career Highlights

  1. BTech in Mining Engineering (Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, 2016)
  2. Identified by authorities as a member of an ISIS-linked module operating in Pune
  3. Placed on the National Investigation Agency’s most-wanted list with a cash reward in 2023
  4. Arrested by Indian authorities in October 2023
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist) born?

1991 or 1992

What is Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist) known for?

Mining Engineer

What is Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Shahnawaz (ISIS Terrorist) married to?

Khadeeja Maryam