Bhatkal (Uttara Kannada): A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Karnataka Police (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪೊಲೀಸ್) on Friday organized coordinated counter-terrorism operations in Uttar Kannada's Bhatkal (ಭಟ್ಕಳ) district and arrested a key ISIS operative Jufri Jawahar Damudi alias Abu Hajir al Badari, who was serving in a top post of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). In the raids Jufri's main companion, Amin Zuhaib, has also been arrested. The operative of the banned organization was held in connection with the Kerala ISIS module case.
A case was registered on June 29 this year at the NIA police station in the National Capital in connection with the conspiracy of the proscribed terrorist organization ISIS to radicalize and recruit impressionable Muslim youth in India to wage violent jihad against the Indian State, the agency said.
Read: NIA raids two houses over alleged links with ISIS
Since then, the central investigative agencies have been monitoring Damudi's movements since April 2020 due to his active role in the production and dissemination of ISIS' campaign through the monthly online magazine 'Voice of Hind'. Apart from ISIS propaganda and media activities, he was also responsible for providing logistic support, including the purchase of arms and ammunition, funding and recruitment for the Mujahideen.
Direct contact with Islamic State leaders
It is learnt that Damudi was in direct contact with the leaders of the Islamic State in Khorasan (Afghanistan) and Syria. Also, he has been using his cyber links to motivate the killing of Kufar (disbelievers), police personnel, journalists and damage temples and government property. The ISIS operative in a bid to conceal his identity and evade intelligence agencies had taken all security precautions and took advantage of the cyberspace to show that he was based in Khorasan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, security agencies were sure that Damudi has been living in India.
Based on this assessment and after the arrest of Qasim Qurasani Mythri Umar Nisar on July 11, intelligence agencies carried out further research in coordination with foreign agencies. It was then that the NIA had confirmed that Abu Hajir al-Badri is the one identified as Jufri Jawahar Damudi of Bhatkal.
Read: Kerala: Jailed IS operative's mother expresses shock over govt's refusal to repatriate prisoner
Agile operation of security agencies
Security agencies have also been able to track down Damudi (30) and his accomplices in Bhatkal (ಭಟ್ಕಳ) through a swift operation. Damudi is the younger brother of Adnan Hasan Damudi. Adnan was arrested by the NIA in 2017 in connection with ISIS. In the investigation, Damudi admitted his involvement with Afghan and Pakistani-based IS operatives and also regarding the production and dissemination of the ISIS propaganda magazine. During the raids by central security agencies, digital media equipment and tainted jihadist literature were also confiscated.
NIA carried out raids in several places across India
In the past month, around 21 places across India, including Kashmir's Anantnag, Srinagar, Bandipora, Baramulla and Karnataka's Mangaluru, Bengaluru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು), Bhatkal (ಭಟ್ಕಳ). In India, around 10 were arrested by NIA's three separate units. Now, the raids across India and the arrest of two prominent ISIS operatives, Qasim Khurasani and Abu Hajir al-Badri, is a major blow to the ISIS. This is expected to significantly reduce the ISIS network in India.
Earlie on Wednesday, NIA had arrested four people in Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka for simultaneously carrying out terrorist activities by groups promoting ISIS's violent ideology. These groups run various ISIS propaganda channels on various social media platforms, such as Telegram, Hoop and Instagram, to promote jihadist ideology, and are actively recruiting new members to terrorist branches, an NIA official said.
Read: NIA arrests 4 people in Kerala ISIS module case
On March 5, the NIA filed a case against seven people under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. ISIS, which has pledged allegiance to a radical group led by Amin and a banned terrorist organization, has identified some people in Kerala and Karnataka as targeted killings, the NIA officials added.
In October last year, the Union Home Ministry had designated 18 persons including two brothers from Bhatkal as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A team of the Pune Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had also visited Bhatkal last month to investigate the German Bakery blast case. Two of the main accused in the blast, Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal are natives of Bhatkal (ಭಟ್ಕಳ). According to the officials, relatives of Riyaz and Iqbal, who run a bakery in the town were also questioned in connection with the case.
