The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 24, filed a charge-sheet against 12 arrested accused in a case related to the fraudulent procurement and activation of SIM cards used by Islamic State (IS) terrorists for their illegal activities in India, an official said, reports Outlook. The accused have been charged with provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), he said.Pachaiyappan (37), a resident of Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram; A Rajesh (34) of Chennai; Anbarasan T (27) of Salem; Abdul Rahiman (44) of Salem; Liyakath Ali (29) of Salem; Mohammed Haneef Khan (29) of Bengaluru (Karnataka); Imran Khan (32) of Bengaluru; Mohammed Zaid (24) of Bengaluru; Ejaz Pasha (46) of Bengaluru; Hussain Shariff (33) of Bengaluru; Khaja Mohideen (52) of Cuddalore and Mahboob Pasha (48) of Bengaluru have been named, the official said.
According to the NIA, key conspirator and IS terrorist Mohideen, after his release on bail in the case of murder of a Hindu leader from Central Prison, Puzhal (Tamil Nadu), in February, 2019, conspired with Liyakath Ali with the intention of furthering the activities of IS in India. They procured a large number of SIM cards fraudulently activated by Pachaiyappan and Rajesh at Chennai besides by Anbarasan and Abdul Rahman at Salem between September and December, 2019, the NIA official said.
Mohideen radicalised his associates Haneef, Imran, Zaid, Ejaz, Shariff and Mahboob of Bengaluru on the violent extremist ideology of IS, and conspired with them to further the activities of the terror group in India, he said. Mohideen and Mahboob also procured, through the co-conspirators, country-made fire arms and prohibited ammunition besides jungle camping equipment to establish a wilayah (province) of IS near forests in South India with a view to wage violent jihad on behalf of the global terrorist organisation, the official said. Further investigation is continuing in the case, the NIA added.