New Delhi: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Telangana police detained three youths from Nagpur today on suspicion that they on their way to join the militant outfit Islamic State (IS).

They were later handed over to the Telangana ATS after the operation. Reportedly, the nabbed youths all aged between 20 and 25 years were residents of Hyderabad.

A senior ATS official said the trio was planning to board a flight to Srinagar from Nagpur. The arrived Hyderabad on Friday, he added.

"We got information that the youth would be boarding the early morning flight," the official said. "The youth, who came to Nagpur by cab, were handed over to the Telangana Counter-Intelligence cell."

Reportedly, the law enforcers had prevented around 20 young men from travelling to Syria and join the militant body. Notably, most of the youths hailed from Telangana.

Indian intelligence agencies revealed that at least 20 Indians were currently fighting for IS in Iraq and Syria.

In 2014, a youth from Kalyan returned home after spending over six months with the outfit. He was arrested from Mumbai.

Reportedly the United Arab Emirates deported four Indian suspected to be in touch with the terror outfits on September 15, this year. ( Inputs from agencies)