Maharashtra ATS swung into action upon receiving tip-off that a civil engineer was in touch with an ISIS handler in Syria via Internet
Officer from Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) yesterday arrested a 31-year-old ISIS operative from Parbhani — radicalised by a Syria-based ISIS handler — who was preparing to carry out a ‘major operation’ soon. The operative was identified as Nazir Bin Yafai Chaus. A civil contractor, Nazir hails from a middle-class family in Parbhani.
An officer said they received a tip-off about a man named Nazir who was using various platforms on the Internet to contact ISIS handler Faruq in Syria, following which they started monitoring his online activities.
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“Nazir had been in touch with Faruq for more than a year. For this, he created several fake profiles and accounts on social media. He was radicalised to the extent that he had agreed to join ISIS,” a senior ATS officer said.
Investigation revealed that Faruq had recently asked Nazir to execute a ‘major operation’ in India.
After receiving credible information that the young man was ready to accomplish the task, the ATS arrested him. Officers are currently busy confiscating materials Nazir had amassed to make explosives, track his money source and people whom he had sought help from to execute the plan.
Sources claimed Nazir was also involved in radicalising and recruiting other youths for the terror group.
A senior ATS officer said they are now investigating whether Nazir was in touch with any of the members of the Hyderabad ISIS module that was busted by the NIA last month. Or ISIS’s pan-India module that was jointly unearthed by the state ATS, NIA and other anti-terrorism agencies in January.
Nazir and Faruq have been booked under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for acts of terrorism, recruiting members for terrorist activities, conspiracy, being member and supporting a terrorist organisation. Nazir was produced in a court, which remanded him in police custody till July 20.
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