In a surprising twist of irony, a radicalized ISIS operative, aptly named Shehnawaz, educated on the age-old doctrine "Kafirs must not be spared," was arrested by the vigilant Delhi Police. Channeling his academic prowess in malevolence, Shehnawaz shockingly admitted to the planning of an attack eerily reminiscent of the tragic 26/11 events. His master plan?

Targeting the cultural heartbeats of India: Hindu temples in Mumbai and the RSS premises scattered across multiple cities. CNN News 18 exclusively reports that this aspiring 'terror scholar' had even managed to run test explosions at various locales including Nuh, Mewat, Delhi, Lucknow, and Rudraprayag. Alas, for Shehnawaz, his dreams were short-lived. The authorities, always a step ahead, nipped his grand 'project' in the bud before his entire team could join the sinister symposium. The audacity of 'education' indeed!

In a detailed exposition brought forth by the ever-diligent CNN-News18 from trusted intelligence sources, Shehnawaz seemingly wore his detective hat rather snugly. He executed a thorough reconnaissance of 15 specific locations, predominantly linked with Hindu organizations in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Baroda. His 'academic' interest? Aiming directly at Right-wing establishments and their esteemed leaders.

One may wonder, where did our young Shehnawaz, a native of Delhi, get this inclination? Could it be from his time at NIT Nagpur, honing his engineering skills to presumably engineer devastation? Or perhaps it was from his father, a respectable teacher in Hazaribagh, where the only lessons Shehnawaz absorbed were ironically in subversion?

But, like any diligent student, Shehnawaz didn't stop at classroom lessons. He avidly attended Dars gatherings, indulging in extracurricular radicalization activities. It was in these very gatherings that he rubbed shoulders with Rizwan, a fellow 'enthusiast'. Their rendezvous? A shared passion for, well, chaos. The lessons one learns outside the classroom are indeed invaluable!

Shehnawaz, in his endeavor to expand his destructive curriculum, started skimming through the pages of 'IED Preparation 101' between 2019 and 2020. A foreign handler, the enigmatic professor in this unsanctioned course, came onboard to illuminate the dark arts of IED creation for Shehnawaz and his newfound companion, Rizwan. The teaching methods? Online sessions, the true embodiment of a digital age education.

Whispers among informed circles suggest that the diligent pair didn't just stop at theory lessons. No, they tested the waters, or rather, the explosives, with trial detonations, while simultaneously scouting for those perfect hideouts and potential hit-lists.

Taking remote guidance to the next level, their foreign handler then played career counsellor, advising our boy Shehnawaz to move to Pune. There, the city's historical fortifications now played host to two more individuals previously linked to arrests in Chittorgarh.

In a bid to maintain their covert ops, each faction set up camp at different Chittorgarh locations. Yet, these aspiring bomb-makers never let distance diminish their fervor. Regular pow-wows were on their calendar, replete with explosive manufacturing workshops. But as fate would have it, once their Pune posse was nabbed, our dynamic duo made a dash to Delhi, perhaps for the next chapter in their malevolent quest.

Shehnawaz might have fancied himself as the spider in the midst of a venomous web, linking ISIS's plots from Delhi to Pune, a geographical stretch of his dark undertakings. The word around the intelligence water cooler was clear, "Shehnawaz is not your garden-variety extremist. His footprints are all over northern India, diligently scouting for that perfect patch of land for the next ISIS training boot camp." Insiders whispered about his handlers orchestrating this eerie talent hunt.

It wasn’t just about real estate, though. As the festive lights threatened to illuminate the nights, Shehnawaz, with his dark visions, already had a list of places he’d love to snuff out that light. A master craftsman of IEDs, he seemed to blend his terror skills with a knack for seasonal timing.

In a twisted form of an open house, when authorities paid a visit to his dwelling, they were greeted with an assortment of damning documents and a cocktail of volatile chemicals, ready to concoct the next calamity. It was as if Shehnawaz’s personal brand was, "Why just spread fear when you can engineer it?"

Like a group of wine connoisseurs who could find grievances as ancient and varied as the finest vintages, this team believed strongly in the motto: “Kafirs, be gone!” One might say they were old-school in their terror approach, drawing inspiration from classics - a fusion of SIMI, Indian Mujahideen, and the modern zest of ISIS. It was like they were trying to bring together all the hits for a terror remix, and what’s a remix without a good ol’ conspiracy theory thrown in?

Shahnawaz Alam (BTech-NIT), Arshad Warsi (BTech MBA), Rizwan Ashraf (BTech) planned blasts in Mumbai, Delhi & Ayodhya

Their Whatsapp statuses (hypothetically speaking) might read, "Influenced by perceived injustices against Muslims, always on the lookout for a good kafir hunt.” Oh, and let's not forget their ‘eclectic’ networking style. Be it chit-chatting with their buddies in the Indian Mujahideen or sending out festive greetings to Jew and Hindu leaders - they had an agenda and a rolodex for everyone.

Now, here's the plot twist. All fingers (and some toes) are pointing towards a ‘Made in Pakistan’ tag on this particular brand of terror. But hold on to your chai! That's still under the investigative microscope.

And as CNN-News18 keenly observed, it’s like watching an episode of 'Where Are They Now?' where once-iconic terror groups like SIMI and Indian Mujahideen are trying to stay relevant in the age of ISIS. Because, why fade into oblivion when you can team up and terrorize with the latest?

Intelligence agencies, in their ever-observant wisdom, have been piecing together the jigsaw puzzle that has ties from Hazaribagh to UP and Maharashtra. If this were a LinkedIn profile, Shahnawaz's title might read: "Central Link - Bringing You The Best of Terror Since...Well, Recently". It’s like the man was born with a knack for terrorism networking.

The plot’s depth had layers like a well-baked cake. If not for the diligent nose of the authorities, this would've been a potential disaster recipe - a fusion dish made of terror groups with a generous sprinkle of cyber skills on top.

Now, let's talk about their résumé. While the average Joe might boast about his Java skills or proficiency in Excel, this group's LinkedIn endorsements would read a little differently. "Highly recommended for IT, 5 stars in cyber warfare, and oh, unparalleled skills in explosive and IED craftsmanship." Who knew terrorists in the modern era would need to be so tech-savvy? But then, one can't stay relevant without updating their skill set, even in the underworld.

Sources whisper, with a hint of relief, that had this amalgamation of IT nerds and bomb enthusiasts gone unnoticed, we'd be dealing with a Silicon Valley of terrorism. Instead, they got LinkedIn by our intelligence. Oh, the irony!

In the world of terror, there seems to be a new trend taking the underground by storm - 'collaboration'. Not the sort you'd find in a pop star's new album but the sort that makes intelligence agencies break into a cold sweat. The blend of ideologies among these charming groups isn't a mere coincidence; it's a deliberate mash-up that serves up a revamped track of their 'greatest hits'.

Here's a cliff note for the uninitiated: Think of it as a bunch of competing coffee shops suddenly realizing they'd sell more if they teamed up. Only, instead of coffee, it's terror, and instead of lattes and cappuccinos, it's blasts and kidnappings.

A recurring name in hushed whispers is that of a foreign handler, probably lounging in the serene settings of Iraq or Syria. One can almost picture him, sipping tea, pondering over the fate of nations. Then, there's the ever intriguing financing pattern – which is less 'Monopoly money' and more 'ISIS official guidebook'.

For those tracking the terror charts, here's the top scoop - old school terror bands, like that boy band everyone loved but eventually forgot, are now making a comeback. They're joining hands, or rather, bombs and guns, under a single terror brand. It's like they've taken a leaf out of corporate mergers. "Why compete when you can monopolize?" they seem to say. Oh, what a time to be alive (and hopefully, stay that way)!

ISIS seems to be taking 'go big or go home' a tad too seriously. While normal people binge-watch Netflix, it appears these gents binge-plan terror attacks – not just any attack, but ones aiming for the ratings of a blockbuster finale.

Interrogations have, and let's picture this with a dramatic drumroll, divulged a plot not only to shock and awe with the sheer scale of devastation but also for that perfect 'Instagrammable' moment. Oh, the allure of dramatic visuals in the age of social media!

In the bustling city of Mumbai, where the average Mumbaikar hustles for a space in a local train, our prime-time terrorists scouted locations that boast not just large footfalls, but historical significance too. The Chabad House, the Naval Helipad near the rustic Colaba slum area, and major temples - places that are the heart and soul of Mumbai. But why stop at cultural symbols? They eyed hydraulic projects - the lifeblood of a country's progress.

To sum it up: Their motto seemed to be, 'If you're going to make a splash, make it a tidal wave'. After all, in the world of terror, it's all about the ratings.