Hyderabad: A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team carried out a search at seven places in city, on Monday, in connection with a 2016 case related to terror outfit ISIS. The sleuths, however, did not detain anyone but seized some material, including digital devices. Sources in the NIA said that the search was carried out in various parts of the city, including in the house of a 19-year-old SSC drop out located at Pahadishareef in the outskirts of Old city.
In 2016, the NIA officials had arrested eight persons who were allegedly planning to carry out bomb blast at several places in the city. All of them were regular visitors to a particular Mosque at Bibi Nagar in the Old City and were in touch with the handlers. A chargesheet was filed in the case by the agency in December 2016. Three others in the case are also absconding.
Officials said that some further leads were received in this case after which searches were conducted. The NIA officials seized laptops, mobile phones and other materials from the house of a 19-year-old man Khudoos. Searches were reportedly carried out at the house of his relatives in Wanaparthy and another place in the city.
The officials were tightlipped about other locations and suspects, saying that it will hamper their investigation. However, sources said that searches were conducted at the house of a few youngsters whose names and activities surfaced during the probe in the 2016 ISIS related case.
The agency alleged that the group, accused in the 2016 case, was attempting to carry out a terror strike by using explosive devices similar to those used by ISIS cadre during last year’s Paris attack. The charge sheet was filed before a Special NIA Court in Hyderabad under various Sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Those named in the charge sheet were Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias Fahad, Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani alias Abu Abdurrahman, Habeeb Mohammed alias Abu Shaibah, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani alias Abu Mansoor, Muzaffar Hussain Rizwan alias Abulhasan, Yasir Naimathullah alias Naimath Ullah Hussaini, Mohd Ataullah Rahman alias Ghouse and Abdul Raoof alias Mohammed Almashrifi.
The charge sheet further stated that forensic analysis of electronic gadgets seized from the accused showed online radicalisation of the accused by watching videos of ISIS, discourses and lectures of radical Islamic preachers like Anwar Awlaki, Abdu Sami Qasmi, Meraj Rabbania, among others. The group associated with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (the ISIS) and had pledged their allegiance through the Bay'ah to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed Caliph of the Islamic State and formed a group called Jhund ul Khilafa Fi Bilad Al Hind (Army of the Caliph from South India), it further said.
The group made efforts to go and join ISIS ranks, took instructions from a handler, formed a terrorist group, pledged Bay'ah to the ISIS, recruited others, contributed money, utilised the funds so collected to procure raw materials, mobile phones, SIM cards, fire arms, ammunition, explosive precursors, in pursuance of the terror conspiracy. All the accused conspired with a common intent to commit terrorist acts, threatening safety, security and integrity of the Nation, the NIA mentioned in the chargesheet.
Meanwhile, the family of Khudoos maintained that the officials inquired about his activities. “They came early in the morning to our house and searched the house. Later, they inquired about Khudoos and checked his mobile phone and laptop, before taking it away. A few more articles kept in the house, including some powder, were seized too,” they said.
His father maintained that Khudoos is a follower of ‘Ahle Hadees’ Group and regularly attends religious events at various Mosques across the country.The NIA officials asked Khudoos and his father to present themselves before them on Tuesday, for further investigation.
