Thane: Mumbra woman’s new passport under ATS scanner, father’s alleged IM-SIMI links probed

The Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS is investigating the new passport issued to a 19yearold woman from Mumbra after allegedly finding that she did not disclose details of an earlier passport while applying for the new documentThe investigation has gained further significance after agencies found that her father Tariq Khan has allegedly been linked to cases involving the Indian Mujahideen IM and the banned Students Islamic Movement of India SIMIFollowing a preliminary investigation by the ATS Mumbra police have registered an FIR against Nameerah Tariq Khan under Section 121b of the Passport Act and Sections 3182 212 and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSInvestigating agencies are examining Nameerahs old and new passports her foreign travel records and her possible links with her father who is allegedly abscondingAccording to sources the ATS received information that Nameerah had obtained a new passport by allegedly providing incomplete information During the inquiry officials reportedly found that she already had a passport issued from Lucknow Uttar PradeshUnder passport regulations details of an existing or previous passport are required to be disclosed while applying for a new passport The ATS is investigating whether Nameerah intentionally withheld information about her earlier passport and is examining the circumstances under which the new document was obtainedThe agency is also scrutinising her foreign travel history as part of the probeDuring the investigation agencies reportedly found that Nameerahs father Tariq Khan had been named in cases linked to SIMI and the Indian MujahideenAccording to sources three cases are registered against Tariq Khan The first dates back to 2001 when he was allegedly accused of having links with SIMIIn 2006 the Mumbai Crime Branch reportedly registered another case against him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA In 2011 another case related to counterfeit currency was registered against him with serious provisions of the UAPA also invoked according to sourcesInvestigating agencies have alleged that Tariq Khan was known for delivering aggressive speeches and that he was involved in radicalising and recruiting young people for groups such as SIMI and the Indian MujahideenAccording to sources he was allegedly considered close to Indian Mujahideen operatives Riyaz Bhatkal and Yasin Bhatkal Agencies have also alleged that he sent several young people to training camps associated with LashkareTaiba in PakistanThe ATS is also probing an alleged training centre near the IndiaNepal border that was reportedly linked to the Indian MujahideenAccording to the agency such a centre was allegedly active in 2006 and Tariq Khan is suspected of having sent young people there for training and of having played a role in its activitiesInvestigating agencies have further alleged that in 2007 Tariq Khan sheltered several youths associated with the Indian Mujahideen in Punes Kondhwa area He was allegedly present there and provided the youths with training related to the use of mobile phones according to sourcesSources also said that Tariq Khan allegedly left India after 2011 and is suspected to be staying in a Gulf country His alleged whereabouts are now also part of the investigationThe ATS is examining Nameerahs earlier passport and her foreign travel records According to sources Nameerah held the Lucknowissued passport when she was a minor and allegedly travelled to Gulf countries in 2014 and 2016 using the documentInvestigators suspect that she may have met her father during those trips However officials are yet to establish this and the matter remains under investigation Agencies are examining immigration records and other relevant information to determine the purpose and details of the travelThe ATS is also looking into the activities and travel records of Nameerahs mother Shabana Sources said she had renewed her passport some time ago and subsequently moved away after the investigation into Nameerahs new passport intensifiedThe agency is examining possible links between Nameerah her mother and Tariq Khan while also trying to determine why information about the old passport was allegedly withheld and whether her foreign travels have any connection with her fatherThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever