Srinagar : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against six accused linked to the Maharashtra ISIS module for planning terrorist activities in support of establishing an Islamic state in India.
Investigations reveal that the accused used various email IDs linked to Islamic State for communication, pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2016.
They also found ISIS propaganda material and magazines with details of social media handles and Telegram IDs used by ISIS to recruit members.
Accused Tabish Siddiqui visited Kupwara, Kashmir in 2018 and later emailed ISIS about plans for establishing an Islamic regime there by taking advantage of the Muslim majority population.
He also delivered lectures in Mumbai and Pune under the guise of Islamic teachings to radicalize and recruit youth for ISIS.
The group planned terrorist activities in Padgha, Maharashtra which has 95% Muslim population. Literature recovered from Siddiqui stated that Padgha could be developed into an ISIS stronghold like Syria. His relative there also invited him to “go to Mulk Shaam” referring to the Levant region.
The NIA charge sheet also mentions an earlier case of a radical group spreading rumors during CAA-NRC protests to instigate Muslim youth that the government is anti-Muslim.
This was part of the overall conspiracy to convince Indian Muslims that they are not safe in India except under an Islamic state.
The accused have been charged for planning to commit terrorist acts in support of ISIS for establishing its regime in parts of India. Further investigations are underway.
