NIA chargesheets 8 ISIS terror accused

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Hyderabad, Dec 23: Eight persons were today named by NIA in a charge sheet for allegedly attempting to carry out a terror strike by using explosive devices.

The terror module was in advanced stage of planning to trigger bomb blasts in communally sensitive areas like Charminar, and markets and malls, and even religious places when NIA swooped down and busted the ISIS module in Hyderabad in June this year. Under surveillance by NIA, intercepts showed how the module was plotting to orchestrate a communal riot.

 

"Arrange for four pieces of buffalo, four pieces of cow. Also further added that additional 7 pieces of cow should be arranged by 27th." an intercept transcript read out.

They have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the country by collecting weapons and explosive materials to target public places including religious sites and sensitive government buildings in various parts of the country.

The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court at Hyderabad under various sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Those named in the charge sheet are 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 NIA said that during raids at various premises on June 29, several electronic gadgets, mobile phones, hard discs, semi-automatic pistols, air rifle, pellets, target boards, explosive precursor chemicals were recovered.

Interestingly, ISIS suspects stored explosives in kitchen, used basement for target killing practice. NIA also found urea, nitrate explosive and equipment for manufacturing like pet jars with liquids, capacitor, gas stove with cylinder, weighing balance, nails, knives, quartz alarm time pieces, bundle of wire. 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, such as Anwar Awlaki, Abdu Sami Qasmi, Meraj Rabbani, Tausif ur Rehman, Jerjees Ansari and Zakir Naik, the agency said.

Investigation has established that the members downloaded and followed ISIS propaganda videos, ISIS magazine "Dabiq", which convinced them that ISIS was fighting for the rights of the Sunni Muslims, it said.

The group associated with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and 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 the South India), it further said.

Investigation has established that the group used different methods of communication to connect within the group and with the overseas ISIS handlers. This included the use of the dark net through Tor browser, use of encryption applications such as Orbot, Amn al Mujahid (an encryption program by Al-Fajr Media Centre), Chat secure, Telegram and encrypted emails like Tutanota on a Tails Operating System platform. They deliberately used secure communication and encryption to evade the monitoring by law enforcement agencies.

Chargesheet further states that several meetings were conducted by the members over the period where many decisions to plan terror attacks.The group made efforts to go and join the ISIS, took instructions from the handler, formed a terrorist group, pledged Bay’ah to the ISIS, recruited other members, contributed money, utilized the funds so collected to procure raw materials, Mobile phones, SIM cards, firearms, ammunition, explosive precursors, in pursuance of the terror conspiracy.

All the accused persons had conspired with a common intent to strike terror and threaten the safety, security and integrity of the nation.