NIA Conducts Extensive Raids To Unearth ISIS Conspiracy Targeting Karnataka And Kerala; Arrests 3 Individuals

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed an Islamic State (IS) conspiracy to target people in Karnataka and Kerala and thus arrested three individuals in connection to this conspiracy. The central agency has carried out search operations in 11 locations across Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi.

Cases under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have been registered against seven people for operating ISIS propaganda channels on several social media platforms and also radicalising and recruiting new members to this ISIS module.

The arrested individuals are Bengaluru-based dental surgeon Rahees Rashid, Karnataka-based Mushab Anuvar and also Mohammed Ameen, who is an IS module leader from Kerala.

“During the searches, several digital devices including Laptops, Mobiles, Hard Disk Drives, Pen Drives, multiple SIM cards of different service providers and incriminating documents have been seized. Seized exhibits are being scrutinized and will be sent for forensic examination,” NIA was quoted by the Indian Express.

Ameen, known as Abu Yahya, had returned to India from Bahrain in March 2020. He operated the Kerala-based module that had was also set to develop ties with militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

They hired new members by spreading Islamic ideology on social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram. NIA officials told the publication that items that were recovered during the search operations will sent for forensic examination after the ongoing scrutiny.

The NIA had received information by the intelligence agencies on the group and they were also aided by the Special Cell of Delhi Police along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Kerala Police. The agency comprehensively verified the received information and tip-offs before proceedings with their raids at Ameen and his associates’ premises.

“The group …had identified certain individuals in Kerala and Karnataka for targeted killing. They had also planned to undertake Hijrat (religious migration) to J&K for engaging in terrorist acts,” the statement from NIA read.

It added, “Further, Mohammed Ameen had travelled to J&K immediately after his return to India from Bahrain in March, 2020 and had been camping in Delhi for last two months for establishing connection with J&K based operatives having allegiance to ISIS.”