Computer Analyst And Dentist Sent Bengaluru Youths To Syria In 2013-14 To Join The Islamic State: NIA

The investigations by National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that a dentist and a computer applications specialist were the key identities involved in sending a group of six to seven youths from Bengaluru to Syria back in 2013-14 to join the Islamic State terror outfit, reports Indian Express.

The two who have been identified as 29-years-old Muhammad Tauqir Mahmood and 28-years-old Zuhaib Hameed alias Shakeel Manna have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

It should be noted that both Mahmood and Hameed were earlier based out of Bengaluru, but are presently based in Saudi Arabia. The duo is believed to have developed connections with the terror outfit through a schoolmate from Saudi Arabia.

It should be noted that the development about a group of youths having been sent to Syria back in 2013-14 had come to light only recently, after the 17 August arrest of 28-years-old ophthalmologist Abdur Rahman from Bengaluru.

Rahman had been arrested on the charge of conspiring with a Kashmiri man who was arrested in March in Delhi over alleged links with the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) which is the Islamic State's unit in India. The investigations had revealed that Rahman had travelled to Syria back in 2013-14 with the assistance of Hameed and Mahmood.

On 7 October, NIA had also arrested a business analyst named Ahamed Abdul Cader from Chennai and a rice merchant identified as Irfan Nasir from Bengaluru for allegedly funding the Bengaluru-based ISIS module.