NIA files charge-sheet against 12 for aiding ISIS terrorists

The National Investigation Agency filed a charge-sheet against the key conspirators involved in the procurement and activation of SIM cards used by ISIS terrorists for their illegal activities in India. The matter came into limelight after the Territorial Sales Manager of Airtel filed a complaint about the unlawful activation of the SIM cards in the Southern states.

New Delhi:The NIA on Tuesday filed a charge-sheet against 12 arrested accused in a case related to the fraudulent procurement and activation of SIM cards used by ISIS terrorists for their illegal activities in India, an official said.

The accused have been charged with the stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he said.

Pachaiyappan (37), a resident of Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram; A Rajesh (34) of Chennai; Anbarasan T (27) of Salem; Abdul Rahiman (44) of Salem; Liyakath Ali (29) of Salem; Mohammed Haneef Khan (29) of Bengaluru; Imran Khan (32) of Bengaluru; Mohammed Zaid (24) of Bengaluru; Ejaz Pasha (46) of Bengaluru; Hussain Shariff (33) of Bengaluru; Khaja Mohideen (52) of Cuddalore and Mahboob Pasha (48) of Bengaluru have been named, the official said.

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), key conspirator and ISIS terrorist Mohideen -- after his release on bail in the case of the murder of a Hindu leader from Central Prison, Puzhal, in February 2019 -- conspired with Liyakath Ali with the intention of furthering the activities of ISIS in India, he said.

They procured a large number of SIM cards fraudulently activated by Pachaiyappan and Rajesh at Chennai besides by Anbarasan and Abdul Rahman at Salem between September and December 2019, the official of the premier investigation agency said.

Mohideen radicalised his associates Haneef, Imran, Zaid, Ejaz, Shariff and Mahboob of Bengaluru on the violent extremist ideology of ISIS, and conspired with them to further the activities of the terror group in India, he said.

Mohideen and Mahboob also procured, through the co-conspirators, country-made firearms and prohibited ammunition besides jungle camping equipment to establish a wilayah (province) of ISIS near forests in South India with a view to wage violent jihad on behalf of the global terrorist organisation, the official said.

The case was originally registered by the Q Branch of the Chennai Police on December 28, 2019, based on a complaint filed by the Territorial Sales Manager of Airtel, Kancheepuram, that some Airtel SIM cards were fraudulently activated using documents of various persons for unlawful gain, he said.

The SIM cards were activated in Chennai and during the subsequent investigation, it was found that similar fraudulent activation of Vodafone SIM cards was also done at Salem, the official said.

The SIM cards procured from Chennai and Salem were provided to Mohideen, who used them for communicating with his co-conspirators and terror associates and for procurement of illegal arms and ammunition for preparing and perpetrating ISIS-related terrorist activities in India, he said.

Further investigation is continuing in the case, the NIA added.

(PTI)