Sheikh Iqbal Sheikh Kabir Ahmed (24) is the third member of the module that was busted by the ATS last month.
A suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathiser has been picked up by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Parbhani on Sunday. The suspect is the third member of the module that was busted by the ATS last month. It is alleged that the suspect was entrusted with the responsibility of inciting youths to join Daesh. The arrested person has been identified as Sheikh Iqbal Sheikh Kabir Ahmed (24).
On July 14, ATS officials had arrested Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, a Parbhani resident, for allegedly being in touch with IS members over social media. Chaus had reportedly created at least 18 bogus accounts on social media through which he was in touch with his handler in Syria identified as Farooq. Chaus also had plans to flee to Syria and join the banned outfit after engaging in some terrorist activities in India, police said. Chaus's interrogation had revealed that he had got explosives made in order to commit terrorist activities and he had sent photographs of the explosive to IS members in Syria. When Chaus was grilled further on this, he told the police that the explosive was in the custody of Shahed Khan. A raid was then conducted at Khan's place and 1 kilogram IED was seized. Khan was arrested on July 24.
"Iqbal is a close friend of Khan and it is suspected that the duo had plans to carry out terrorist strikes in Hyderabad and Marathwada. Our probe has revealed that on the instructions of Chaus, Khan had radicalised Iqbal and incited him to fight for IS. It is also suspected that Iqbal was instrumental in radicalising youths from Parbhani," said an ATS official, requesting anonymity. He added, on receipt of specific information, he was picked up from the Madina Nagar area. Eight more persons from Parbhani are on the radar of ATS. "We suspect there is a huge module of radicalised youths, headed by Chaus," an officer said.
Recent crackdown on IS in Maharashtra
- July 14 – Maharashtra ATS officials have arrested Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, a Parbhani resident, for allegedly being in touch with IS members over social media. The alleged sympathiser had created at least 18 bogus accounts on social media through which he was in touch with his handler in Syria, identified as Farooq. The suspect also had plans to flee to Syria and join the banned outfit.
- July 21 – In a joint operation, Maharashtra ATS and Kerala police conducted a raid in Navi Mumbai and picked up Arshi Qureshi from his Seawoods residence. A case under sections 153A (for promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and relevant section of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been registered in Kochi police station. Qureshi, who is associated with IRF was arrested by the ATS after it was alleged that he was instrumental in forced conversion of a few youths and motivated them to join IS.
- July 22 – In a joint operation by Maharashtra ATS and Kerala police, one Rizwan Khan, who was allegedly instrumental in recruiting youths for IS, was apprehended from his Kalyan residence in Thane. A case has also been registered against him in Kerala in connection with conversion issues.
- July 24 – Maharashtra ATS arrested Shahed Khan (24), an engineer from Parbhani, with one kilogram of improvised explosive device (IED) and other explosive articles. Khan is said to be an associate of Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, Nasir was in touch with a Syria-based handler who instigated him to plan attacks in India. Khan had kept the explosive at his place on the instructions of Chaus, police claimed.
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