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NIA Busts ISIS-linked Terror Module in Madhya Pradesh

By LokMarg 27th May 2023

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has busted an ISIS-linked terror module in an intelligence-led joint operation with the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of Madhya Pradesh Police and arrested three persons in this regard.

The three persons identified as Syed Mamoor Ali, Mohammad Adil Khan and Mohammad Shahid have been arrested from Jabalpur and will be produced in the NIA Special Court in Bhopal today, said an official release.

According to the release, the arrests took place after overnight raids were conducted at 13 locations in Jabalpur on May 26-27.

A host of sharp-edged weapons, ammunition (including prohibited bore), incriminating documents and digital devices were also seized during the searches, the statement said.

“The NIA had, on May 24, registered a case (RC-14/2023/NIA/DLI), during its investigations into the pro-ISIS activities of Mohammad Adil Khan, who came to the agency’s notice in August 2022. The NIA learnt that he and his associates were involved in disseminating ISIS propaganda through social media platforms, as well as through on-ground ‘Dawah’ programmes, in order to unleash violent terror attacks in India at the instance of ISIS. The module had been conducting meetings/Dars in local Masjids and houses and hatching plans and conspiracies to spread terror in the country”, the statement read.

The release further stated, “Investigations revealed that the three accused were highly radicalised and were determined to carry out violent jihad. They were engaged in collecting funds, disseminating ISIS propaganda material, motivating and recruiting youth, and trying to procure arms and ammunition with the objective of carrying out terrorist acts.”

As per the statement, Syed Mamoor Ali had created a local group/Tanzeem by the name of ‘Fisabilillah’ and was also operating a WhatsApp group by the same name. “Along with his associates, he was trying to procure Pistols and was in contact with a Jabalpur-based illegal arms supplier for this purpose”, the statement added.

The statement further said, “A staunch ISIS follower and supporter, Adil had managed to assemble an active group of Jabalpur-based like-minded radicalised individuals. Some of the module members were already contemplating Hijrat (flight) to conflict theatres, while others had plans to form a local outfit for carrying out violent jihad in India, according to the NIA investigations.”

“Adil was also running multiple YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp channels for motivating and recruiting youth into the ISIS fold”, the release added.

Investigations further showed that Shahid had also planned to procure weapons including Pistols, IEDs and even grenades for violent attacks in India, as mentioned in the statement. (ANI)

Operation Dhvast: NIA Raids 324 Spots To Bust Terror-Drug Nexus

By LokMarg 17th May 2023

In a massive day-long operation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in coordination with Punjab and Haryana Police, on Wednesday raided 324 locations as part of “Operation Dhvast” in eight states in terrorist-gangster-drug smugglers nexus cases.

The agency seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, besides other incriminating material in the operation which began around 5.30 am.

Several suspects were detained during the raids, conducted in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Madhya Pradesh.

While NIA conducted search operations in 129 places, Punjab Police launched searches at 143 places in 17 districts and Haryana Police raided 52 locations in 10 districts simultaneously.

The day-long searches were aimed at breaking the terror nexus of Arsh Dalla, a designated terrorist, apart from dreaded gangsters such as Lawrence Bishnoi, Chhenu Pehalwan, Deepak Teetar, Bhupi Rana, Vikash Lagarpuriya, Ashish Choudhary, Gurpreet Sekhon, Dilpreet Baba, Harsimrat Simma and Anuradha, said the NIA.

“The focus of today’s raids was on weapon suppliers, financiers, logistic providers and hawala operators associated with the hardcore gangs working with drug smugglers and terrorists based out of other countries like Pakistan and Canada,” the Central anti-terror agency said.

The raiding parties seized a pistol, assorted ammunition (both live and used cartridges), in addition to 60 mobile phones, five DVRs, 20 SIM cards, one hard disk, one pen drive, one dongle, one WiFi router, a digital watch, two memory cards, 75 documents and Rs 39, 60,000 in cash.

These were the sixth in the series of such crackdowns launched by the NIA following the registration of three cases since August 2022 of conspiracies related to targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits and extortion.

The sensational killing of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year is notable among these cases.

NIA investigations have revealed that the conspiracies were being hatched in jails of different states and were being executed by an organized network of operatives based abroad.

“The spotlight on these gangs has become sharper after reports of several prisons becoming havens of the deadly nexus and hubs of gang wars, which recently resulted in violence and murder inside Goindwal Jail and Tihar Jail”, said the NIA.

The NIA has further found that many criminals, who were leading the gangsters in India, had fled to countries like Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia, from where they have been engaged in planning serious crimes in association with criminals lodged in jails across India.

“These groups were carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for their nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortion”, one of the NIA officials said.

Abohar, Moga, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Mohali, Ferozpur, Tarn Taran, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Roopnagar, Nawashahar, Ferozpur, Amritsar, Patiala, Bernala and Jalandhar districts of Punjab, Gurugram, Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Rohtak, Sirsa, Kurukshetra and Jhajjar districts of Haryana, Sri Ganga Nagar, Churu, Bikaner and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan; Baghpat, Meerut and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Bhind and Barwani districts of Madhya Pradesh, besides Dwarka, North, North-east, South-east, South, Outer and Outer North districts of Delhi and NCR are some of the locations where raids were conducted on Wednesday.

The NIA had previously conducted searches at 231 locations and seized 38 arms, including 4 lethal weapons, along with 1,129 rounds of ammunition. It has so far frozen 87 bank accounts and attached 13 properties, besides seizing 331 digital devices, 418 documents and two vehicles.

Two absconders have been declared as designated individual terrorists, and NBWs have been issued against 10 persons and Look Out Circulars against 14 others.

“Further investigations are on to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure,” added the NIA. (ANI)

PFI Terror Funding: NIA Busts Multi-State Hawala Network

By LokMarg 7th March 2023

While tracing and tracking the funds being moved by the Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, especially the States of Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar etc, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations into the Phulwari Sharif PFI case of Bihar have led to the unearthing of a large network of hawala operatives in South India and their arrest from Karnataka.

A PFI funding-by-hawala module operating out of Bihar and Karnataka with roots in the UAE has been busted with the arrests of five PFI operatives from Kasargod, Kerala and Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka. PFI cadres in Phulwarisharif and Motihari had vowed to continue PFI activities in a clandestine manner in Bihar and had also arranged a firearm and ammunition recently to eliminate a youth of a particular community in Bihar’s East Champaran District. Three operatives of the module had been arrested on February 5, 2023, said NIA statement.

The probing agency said the five arrested on Tuesday have been found to be actively involved in PFI’s criminal conspiracy to move and channelise illicit funds procured from outside India for distribution among PFI leaders and cadres. Earlier in this case, seven accused persons have already been arrested when they had gathered in Phulwari Sharif area of Patna in July last year for training and to carry out acts of terror and violence.

NIA teams have been carrying out extensive searches in Kasargod (Kerala) and Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka since Sunday. Searches were conducted at eight locations leading to the seizure of multiple digital devices and incriminating documents containing details of transactions running into several crore rupees.

Pursuing the investigational leads since July 2022, the NIA team found that despite the ban on PFI imposed on September 27, the PFI and its leaders and cadres continued to propagate the ideology of violent extremism and were also arranging arms and ammunition to commit crimes. ‘Following the money’, NIA investigators reached Md Sarfraz Nawaz and Md Mahammad Sinan, who had been found making deposits in the bank accounts of the accused and suspects in the PFI case.

Dogged in pursuit of the money trail and connecting the dots, NIA managed to unravel the international conspiracy and linkages to the funds while investigating Iqbal and other associates who had collected illegally generated funds from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and handed them over to Muhammad Sinan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Rafeek M and Abid KM in India.

NIA investigations have shown that Mohammad Sarfaraz, Md Sinan and Md Rafeek deposited this money in different bank accounts of the accused and the suspects. These five accused will be produced in NIA Special Court Patna shortly.

Further investigations are on to track, trace and choke international as well domestic illicit funding channels of the banned PFI, said NIA. (ANI)

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NIA Conviction Rates Crosses 93% Mark

By LokMarg 1st March 2023

The National Investigation Agency’s conviction rate stands at 93.69 per cent with the pronouncement of sentences for 10 accused in two separate judgements by Special Courts at Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

Both cases relate to the online radicalization of the accused in the name of ISIS, and their motivation to commit violent Jihad and cause terror attacks in the country.

NIA Special Court, Lucknow awarded death sentences against seven accused and life imprisonment for one in the ISIS Kanpur case on Monday. However, another NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad sentenced two to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the ISIS Rajkot case.

“With the pronouncing of these two sentences, the conviction rate of NIA cases stands at 93.69 per cent,” said the NIA in a statement.

Continuing the tradition of evidence-based investigations, which rely on scientifically collected hard evidence, the NIA said it has achieved yet another milestone.

The eight accused from Uttar Pradesh, Atif Muzaffar, Mohammad Danish, Asif Iqbal alias Rocky, Mohammad Atif alias Atif Iraqi, Mohammad Faisal, Mohammad Azhar and Gauss Mohammad Khan all hailing from Kanpur Nagar, Sayed Meer Hussain of Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj along with deceased Md. Saifullah had set up a hideout in Haji Colony (Lucknow), said the agency.

“They had prepared and tested some IEDs and had unsuccessfully tried to plant them at various locations in Uttar Pradesh. Investigations have led to the discovery of several photographs of the accused making IEDs and even with weapons, ammunition and ISIS flag,” the NIA said.

“The group had reportedly collected illegal weapons, and explosives from various places.”

Atif and three others, identified as Md Danish, Sayed Meer Hussain and Md Saifulla had been responsible for fabricating the IED that was planted in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train, it said.

The train explosion on March 7, 2017, had left 10 injured.

All eight had come together to propagate ISIS ideology and promote its activities in India, said the NIA.

In pursuit of this objective, the agency said, Mohammad Faisal, Gauss Mohammad Khan, Atif Muzaffar, Md Danish, and Md Saifulla had explored land routes and had visited several key cities across the country, including Kolkata, Sundarbans, Srinagar, Amritsar, Wagha Border, Badmer, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, and Kozhikode, for undertaking ‘hijrah’ (migration).

Gauss Mohammad Khan and Atif Muzaffar had, in fact, explored a route to cross over to Bangladesh via Sundarbans, as per investigations, said the NIA.

Faisal, Atif and Saifulla had also travelled to Kashmir in March 2016 in a bid to contact some terrorist groups that could help them to cross over to Pakistan, from where they could migrate to ISIS-controlled territories in Syria.

Another accused, Saifulla, was killed during an exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) on March 7, 2017, in Haji Colony.

The case was initially registered on March 8, 2017, by Lucknow ATS and re-registered by the NIA on March 14, 2017.

After investigations, the NIA said, a charge sheet was filed against eight persons on August 31, 2017.

Post the trial, eight accused persons were convicted on February 24 this year.

NIA Special Judge, Lucknow Court, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday pronounced a sentence convicting the accused under various offences of the India Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.

Seven of the accused namely Mohammad Faisal, Gauss Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Azhar, Atif Muzaffar, Mohammad Danish, Sayed Meer Hussain and Asif Iqbal have been awarded the death penalty while Mohammad Atif has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

On the other hand, in yet another ISIS-related case, Gujarat NIA Special Court sentenced two terrorists to ten years rigorous imprisonment after the NIA found the use of social media platforms, such as Skype and Telegram, to radicalise and recruit cadres to carry out terror acts in India in the name of ISIS during its investigation.

Both accused Vaseem Arif Ramodia alias Ninja Fox and Naeem Arif Ramodia are brothers and residents of Rajkot in Gujarat.

“Investigations have revealed that they used online chats and messages to advocate and spread the ideology of ISIS. They arranged, participated and assisted in organizing online discussions and meetings among active ISIS operatives to plan and execute acts of violence and terrorism,” said the NIA.

They had tried to commit arson by burning vehicles and shops belonging to non-Muslims, said the agency, adding “they have unsuccessfully tried to fabricate an IED as well”.

On the directions of their online ISIS handlers, the NIA said, both the accused were preparing to carry out a lone-wolf attack at Chotila Temple.

“They had already recee’d the area but they were apprehended before they could carry out the attack.”

The case was initially registered as by ATS Ahmedabad and re-registered by the NIA on May 25, 2017, and the Chargesheet was filed against them on August 22, 2017. After the trial was completed, judgment convicting the accused was pronounced on Tuesday. (ANI)

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Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Case: NIA Files Supplementary Charge Sheet In Special Court

By LokMarg 13th January 2023

National Investigation Agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet in a special court in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal against an accused in the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh case.

The case pertains to the arrest of 10 active cadres of a proscribed terrorist organization, including 6 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, in March 2022.
“National Investigation Agency today filed a supplementary charge sheet in a special court in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh against an accused in Jamaat-Ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh case pertaining to the arrest of 10 active cadres of the proscribed terrorist organization, including 6 illegal immigrants of Bangladesh, in March 2022,” NIA said.

The JMB, which carried out a terror attack at a popular cafe in Dhaka in 2016 in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed, is trying to spread its tentacles in India, the NIA said in 2019. (ANI)

NIA Arrests Bikramjit Singh After Extradition From Austria

By LokMarg 8th December 2022

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested wanted to accuse Bikramjit Singh after his extradition from Austria.

Bikramjit Singh, who is also known by different aliases like Bikkar Panjwar and Bikkar Baba, had formed a terror gang to carry out terror attacks in Punjab, along with his close associates.
The NIA said, “Bikramjit Singh was arrested after his extradition by the competent authority of Linz, Austria in coordination with Interpol authorities.”

Bikramjit had allegedly formed a terror gang to carry out terror attacks in Punjab, along with with his close associates. He was absconding in the NIA case filed against him in 2019. The NIA had sent a team to Austria to bring him back to India.

On the strength of the non-bailable warrants issued by the NIA Special Court, Mohali and subsequent the Red Corner Notice, absconding accused Bikramjit Singh was detained in Linz, Austria on March 22, 2021.

“After completion of legal proceedings, Linz Regional Court, Australia extradited the arrested accused Bikramjit Singh,” the NIA said in a statement.

Investigations had revealed that Bikramjit Singh not only instigated the co-accused and others to commit terrorist acts but also conducted training for fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices and using them.

“During various processions and agitations, Bikramjit Singh carried bombs and instigated other participants to attack government agencies to strike terror in the population at large,” said the NIA.

The anti-terror agency further said that Bikramjit Singh was the key conspirator in the conspiracy to target Dera Muradpura. (ANI)

NIA Takes Over Mangaluru Cooker Blast Case

By LokMarg 2nd December 2022

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the November 19 pressure cooker blast in an autorickshaw in Mangaluru wherein a passenger, identified as Mohammed Shariq, was carrying a pressure cooker bomb made from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The anti-terror agency took over the case this week soon after the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation to it considering a terror plot behind the act.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, N Shashikumar, Mangaluru Police Commissioner said, the case which was with Mangaluru City police will be investigated by NIA.

“On Wednesday doctor certified that the accused is now fit to be questioned. So our investigating officer and their team questioned him on certain inputs, which were to be taken up in the investigation. We received instructions from our chief office that the case is being transferred to NIA and we have finished the formalities. They are taking up the case for further investigation. Henceforth, the case which was with Mangaluru City police will be investigated by NIA,” said Shashikumar on Thursday.

The auto-rickshaw exploded leading to injuries to both the passenger, Mohammed Shariq, who was carrying a pressure cooker bomb made IED, and the autorickshaw driver Purushottam Poojari. The cooker bomb was designed to carry out a large-scale attack to fuel communal tensions in the coastal region and in the state.

Shariq was en route to a pre-decided location for carrying out the blast when the explosion took place. The Forensic Science Laboratory Division (FSL) team reached the house rented by Shariq in Mysore the next day and recovered materials used to make explosives.

The NIA has started its investigation under the provision of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and investigating officers have started questioning the main accused Shariq as the state police have found his links with the Islamic State (IS) in its investigation, and he had radicalised his schoolmates, Syed Yasin and Muneer Ahmed, and introduced them to IS as well.

Together, the three of them had experimented and rehearsed the explosion on the banks of the Tunga river in the Shivamogga district. The practice explosion was also reportedly successful. According to sources, the main accused, Shariq, had a handler who was orchestrating and instructing him regarding all these activities.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra earlier this month had sent a request to the MHA to hand over the case to NIA.

The state police probe has also revealed that the conspiracy was hatched to carry out blasts and put the blame on Hindu organisations and to reignite a debate on ‘Hindu terrorism’ in the country. (ANI)

Centre Orders NIA Investigation Into Coimbatore Car Blast

By LokMarg 27th October 2022

By Rajnish Singh

The Central government on Thursday ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion in a car, considering the possibility of cross-state developments and the role of international elements in the investigation.

The Counter-Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the order a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended an NIA probe in the case.

A top government official said that the “NIA will take over the case very soon”.

Stalin, in a recommendation letter, to the MHA had requested on Wednesday to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area in Coimbatore to the NIA and directed police to ensure security in Coimbatore.

Stalin’s recommendation followed a detailed review meeting held on Wednesday at the Head Office under the leadership of the Chief Minister regarding the ongoing investigation of the case.

Tamil Nadu Police so far has arrested six people in connection with the case, and have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Those arrested are learnt to be associates of Jameesha Mubin, who was charred to death in suspicious circumstances after an LPG cylinder inside a Maruti 800 he was driving exploded near a temple in Coimbatore around 4 am on October 23.

According to police, Mubin, 25, an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. His name is mentioned as the primary accused in the case.

Five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27. However, the sixth person, identified as Afsar Khan, a relative of the deceased, was arrested earlier on Thursday. Khan is the cousin of the deceased. He was picked two days before by the special investigation team.

On Wednesday noon, Police officials also conducted searches on Khan’s residence and took his laptop.

Since the explosion occurred in Ukkadam, a communally sensitive area, the state’s top police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu and Additional DGP (law and order) Thamarai Kannan, rushed to the spot.

The DGP on Sunday said the police found materials used to make explosives in Mubin’s house in Ukkadam. They seized 75 kgs of potassium nitrate, charcoal, aluminium powder and sulphur which can be used to make explosives. (ANI)

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J-K: Charge Sheet Against 12 In Sunjwan Terrorist Attack

By LokMarg 19th October 2022

National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a charge sheet against twelve accused persons including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, in the Sunjwan Terrorist attack case, informed NIA in a press release.

As per the release, the charge sheet was filed in NIA Special Court, Jammu against the 12 persons in connection to a case related to the conspiracy hatched among Kashmir-based terrorist operatives, Pakistan-based handlers and terrorists of proscribed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
As a part of the conspiracy, two JeM terrorists infiltrated India through a tunnel. The release stated that the tunnel was excavated on the International Border in the area falling under BOP Chack Faqira in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The release further stated that the security forces intercepted the movement of the said terrorists and both terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the area of Sunjwan, Jammu.

The case was initially registered as FIR No. 115/2022 dated 22.04.2022 at PS Bahu Fort, Jammu and re-registered by NIA on 26.04.2022.

The accused have been identified as Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh, Bilal Ahmad Wagay, Mohammed Ishaq Chopan, Abid Mushtaq Mir, Masood Azhar Alvi, Rouf Asgar Alvi, Mohammad Mussadiq, Shahid Latif, Masood Ilyas Kashmiri Asif Ahmad Sheikh and two more slain terrorists against whom charge stands abated,

As per the investigation, the accused namely Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh, Bilal Ahmad, Mohammad Ishaq Chopan, Abid Mushtaq Mir, and Asif Ahmad Sheikh hatched a conspiracy with two freshly infiltrated Pakistani JeM terrorists and JeM leadership namely Moulana Masood Azhar Alvi, Abdul Rouf Asgar and launching commanders namely Mohammed Mussadiq, Shahid Latif, Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, in the furtherance of which they received, transported and provided logistic support to newly infiltrated JeM terrorists who entered into Indian territory to execute a suicidal attack on the security forces and other vital installations in Jammu region with a view to disrupting the scheduled visit of the Prime Minister of India on April 24, 2022, the release stated.

Further investigations are in progress in the case, the release stated. (ANI)

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Al Huda Educational Trust Case: NIA Conducts Raids In J-K

By LokMarg 11th October 2022

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in a terror funding case having links to suspicious activities of Al Huda Educational Trust in the Union Territory.

The anti-terror agency has been conducting searches at locations in the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Shopian and Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir.
NIA sources said that the case is related to the suspicious activities of Al Huda Educational Trust in the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The case was registered suo-moto by NIA about the funding pattern and activities of Al Huda Educational Trust, which is functioning as a frontal entity for Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, which was declared as an ‘unlawful association’ under UA(P)A in 2019.

Sources said that NIA’s multiple teams carried out these raids based on specific inputs. The raids were conducted in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). (ANI)

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