In a major anti-terror action, authorities recently nabbed nabbed 12 terrorists linked with al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). As per reports, the terrorists met their foreign handlers from the AQIS and the ISIS via a gaming app. They also had links with “Benex Com”, a group associated with ISIS.
The terrorists were arrested in an inter-state operation across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana. They have been identified as Mohammad Rahmatullah Shareef (Andhra Pradesh), Mirza Sohail Beg (Andhra Pradesh), Mohammad Danish (Andhra Pradesh), Shadman Dilkush (Bihar), Ajmanullah Khan (Bihar), Lucky Ahmed (Delhi), Mir Asif Ali (West Bengal), Zeeshan (Rajasthan), Abdul Salam (Karnataka), Shah Rukh Khan (Maharashtra), Shiyak Piyaz ur Rehman (Maharashtra), and Saida Begum (Telangana). They were arrested during a joint operation of police in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
According to officials, the terrorists replaced the Indian national flag with the ISIS flag on their social media posts. They burnt the national flag, praised the ISIS flag and called for the transformation of India into an Islamic State. They also mocked the national anthem.
It was revealed during the investigation that the accused were planning to travel to Pakistan within a month to undergo training. They were also motivating others to take part in training in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Three terrorists, Mohammad Rahmatullah Shareef, Mirza Sohail Beg and Mohammad Danish, all residents of Vijayawada, had reportedly formed a group called “Al Malik Islamic Youth” to radicalise youth and prepare them for jihad.
The terrorists had been working towards expanding their network across several states by coordinating with operatives in different regions, to achieve the Islamic mission of Ghazwa-e-Hind (war against India). They used to watch videos of al-Qaeda chief and slain terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and imitate him while engaging in radical propaganda. They posted several videos projecting themselves as Mujahideen (soldiers of Islam).
Some of them have been engaged in spreading Jihad-related activities through online platforms. Rahmatullah, a bike taxi driver, Danish, a laser marking professional, and Sohail Beg, who works at a restaurant, were handling the social media. Rahmatullah, reportedly, developed contacts with a foreign handler identified as Al-Hakeem Shukur through social media and, on his instructions, collaborated with Shadman Dilkush from Bihar and Saida Begum from Hyderabad.
Rahmatullah is said to have developed contacts with a foreign handler identified as Al-Hakeem Shukur through social media. On Shukur’s instructions, he collaborated with Shadman Dilkush from Bihar and Saida Begum from Hyderabad. Rahmatullah further formed contacts with Ahmed, Ajmanullah Khan, Mir Asif Ali, Zeeshan, Abdul Salam, Shah Rukh Khan and Shiyak Piyaz ur Rehman.
The police are investigating the terror network and are closely examining all the evidence and the leads.
