Maharashra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday filed chargesheet in Sewree sessions court against Anees Ansari, the suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathiser arrested last October for allegedly conspiring to blow up an American school at BKC. This was the first case in which the agency had found a self-indoctrinated radical youth ready to carry out terror attack.
Maharashra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday filed chargesheet in Sewree sessions court against Anees Ansari, the suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathiser arrested last October for allegedly conspiring to blow up an American school at BKC. This was the first case in which the agency had found a self-indoctrinated radical youth ready to carry out terror attack.
“The 728-page chargesheet contains evidence provided by 50 witnesses including forensic experts, who submitted a 40-page examination report of six computer hard disks and one mobile phone. It also shows one Omar Elhajj as wanted (accused),” said ATS additional director general Himanshu Roy.
As per sources, the forensic report confirms Ansari's jihadi chats and intent. “It has confirmed all keywords we had sought,” said an ATS officer.
Ansari had a regular Facebook account, but sometime ago, he created another account in some other name. ATS's social media lab that monitors anti-national and unlawful activities on Internet, had been monitoring Ansari's posts.
“When United States started acting against militants in Syria, Ansari started watching online videos on it. He watched videos that had the maximum hits and also those that showed atrocities against Muslims. He was agitated and developed hatred towards western countries,” said an ATS officer requesting anonymity.
And apart from watching provocative videos of ISIS chief Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi, Ansari also used to watch discourses by other fiery Muslim clerics. “We have recovered a few video clips of United Kingdom-based Maulana Noman Ali Khan and South Africa-based Maulana Ahmed Badak. We also recovered a few ISIS literature. He is an ISIS sympathiser,” said an ATS officer.
“Ansari used to chat with someone the idea of launching a bomb attack on American nationals and foreigners in Mumbai to attract world attention. He was trying to get details on how to prepare a thermite bomb and posted whatever he got on his Facebook account,” said an ATS officer requesting anonymity.
Thermite is a pyrotechnic composition of metal powder, fuel and metal oxide. When ignited, it undergoes exothermicoxidation-reduction reaction. Most varieties are not explosives, but can create brief bursts of high temperature in a small area. It's similar to other fuel-oxidizer mixtures like black powder.
ATS has also recorded statements of witnesses in touch with Ansari on WhatsApp. They have stated that Ansari used to send them provocative comments. “One of the witnesses has on his mobile Ansari's comment and his reply. The agency has seized the mobile,” the officer said.
Who is Anees Ansari?
Anees Ansari, 24, a resident of Kader building in Kurla (W), used to work in a multi-national company in SEEPZ, Andheri (E). His job involved designing navigation maps for imported cars. He studied IT in a suburban college and used to draw Rs 19,500 monthly. His father is retired and mother a homemaker. He is the eldest among four siblings.
Booked under which section?
He has been booked under sections 43 (penalty and compensation for damage to computer, computer system, etc), 66A (punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc.), 66 A (a) (any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character) and 66F (punishment for cyber terrorism) of Information Technology Act, and sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) of Indian Penal Code.
Who is Omar Elhajj?
Omar Elhajj is the man Ansari kept chatting with about bombing the school in Mumbai. “The Internet Protocol address that Elhajj was using was that of United States,” said an ATS officer. Elhajj and Ansari had been chatting with each other for six months before Ansari was arrested. They met in one of the Jihadi chatrooms. ATS is in the process of issuing red-corner notice against Elhajj.
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