NIA files chargesheet in Delhi-Amroha IS module case

New Delhi:  The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet in a Delhi court against 10 people, including Mufti Mohammad Suhail, in a case related to Delhi-Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha Islamic State (IS) module, alleging that Suhail has conspired with others to wage war against the country.

“Investigation has established that accused Mufti Suhail and the other co-accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage a violent ‘jihad’ against Government of India by use of weapons and explosives to establish an IS Caliphate in India,” NIA said in its chargesheet.

“The module was being guided by three IS handlers based abroad. The module made extensive use of encrypted social media applications/chat platforms. These have been recovered from their mobile phones,” the agency said.

The chargesheet was filed before Additional Session Judge Ajay Kumar, who has listed the matter for July 4 for further hearing.

NIA alleged that Suhail has formed an IS module ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-E-Islam’ (Movement for War of Islam) with others to commit terror activities and the module is amassing weapons and explosives.

The NIA said that Suhail, the mastermind of the group, was giving radicalization sermons to the other members of the module and he exhorted them to offer themselves for the violent Jihad against infidels in India.

According to NIA, two of the accused persons also recorded rehearsal video of their resolve to fight violent Jihad that was to be published after their suicide attacks.

Beside Suhail, other nine accused are Mohammad Faiz, Anas Younus, Zubair Malik, Rashid Zafar Raq, Mohammad Saqib, Mohammad Absar, Mohammad Gufran and Mohammad Naeem alias Naim under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code, Explosives Substances Act and the Arms Act.

NIA said that investigation against three more accused is on.

“Forensic reports in respect of the seized chemicals and improvised explosive device (IED) making material has affirmed that these were sufficient to manufacture sophisticated IEDs,” NIA said.

“The group wanted to manufacture IED, to be detonated by remote controlled devices, of more than 100 meters range.”

A large number of e-books, messages in encrypted chats and detailed manuals issued by IS and affiliated terror entities for training in bomb-making, IED making and methods to inflict mass casualties have been recovered from the seized mobile phones.

The mobile phones of accused persons contain high amount of IS propaganda material including violent Jihadi anthems, videos and audio proclaiming solidarity with Kashmiri terrorists, audio messages by an IS handler, and radicalization sermons of Chief of Jaish-E-Muhammad Maulana Masood Azhar and alleged Chief of Al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent Asim Umar.

“This group owed its allegiance to IS and wanted to establish an IS Caliphate in India by resorting to large-scale terrorist attacks in and around National Capital Region. The group carried out reconnaissance of some such locations in and around Delhi,” NIA said.

The NIA had registered the case on October 20 2018.

NIA has conducted searches at 17 locations on December 26, 2018 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and seized 12 pistols, 163 assorted ammunition, one improvised missile launcher, 98 mobile devices and phones, 25 kg of explosive chemicals, hardware and electronic materials including 120 alarm clocks to make IEDs, and incriminating books and material.

 Published on: June 21, 2019 at 21:48 IST

IANS