New Delhi, March 15
The NIA (National Investigation Agency) conducted searches at 11 places in Delhi, Kerala and Karnataka in the Kerala ISIS Module case.
The NIA officials stated that the searches were conducted with the help of local police in eight districts of Kerala mainly Kannu, Mallapuram, Kasargod and Kollam. The searches were also done at two locations in Bengaluru and one location at Delhi.
The searches were conducted pertaining to a case under probe by the NIA on the alleged activists of a group led by Mohd Ameen alias Abu Yahya, a resident of Kerala.
The officials added that this group has been running various ISIS propaganda through social media like Telegram, Instagram and Hoop for allegedly propagating violent jihadi ideology of the ISIS and recruiting new members in this ISIS module. The NIA had registered a case under seven persons and other unidentified persons in this case under Sections 120B, 121 and 121A of the Indian Penal Code and and the UAPA Act on March 5.
The NIA officials stated that the group of radicalized individuals under the leadership of Mohammed Ameen owning allegiance to proscribed terrorist organization ISIS had identified certain individuals in Kerala and Karnataka for targeted killing. They had also planned to undertake Hijrat (religious migration) to J&K for engaging in terrorist acts. Further, Mohammed Ameen had travelled to J&K immediately after his return to India from Bahrain in March, 2020 and had been camping in Delhi for last two months for establishing connection with J&K based operatives having allegiance to ISIS.The searches were conducted at the premises of accused Mohammed Ameen @ Abu Yahya and his associates who were members of the various groups and channels on encrypted chat platforms.
The officials further said that during the searches, several digital devices including Laptops, Mobiles, Hard Disk Drives, Pen Drives, multiple SIM cards of different service providers and incriminating documents have been seized. Seized exhibits are being scrutinized and will be sent for forensic examination.
The searches were preceded by extensive verification jointly by NIA, Special Cell, Delhi Police and ATS, Kerala Police, officials added. The NIA is further investigating the case.
