Charge-sheet filed against Scientist for providing SIM cards to ISIS terrorists
Wednesday, 16 June 2021 (15:16 IST)
New Delhi:The anti-terror probe agency NIA on Tuesday said that it has filed a charge sheet against an ultra for providing SIM cards of various mobile companies to the terrorists following tenets of Islamic States of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) in Chennai.
Accused Syed Ali, 31, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has been booked under sections 120B, 471 and 201 of IPC, sections 18, 38 and 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, and sections 4 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act,1908 before the NIA Special Court in Chennai.
The case was initially registered December 28 in 2019 with Criminal Investigation Department Branch (CID) of Chennai City Police Station relating to arrest of few persons who had conspired at Salem and Chennai and fraudulently activated Airtel and Vodafone SIM cards by using multiple identity documents of various persons without their knowledge and consent and were used for the terror activities.
The National Investigation Agency(NIA) took over the case on January 21 last year and initiated the probe.
The investigation has revealed that these SIM cards were supplied to ISIS terrorists Liyakath Ali and Khaja Moideen who along with his co-conspirators had used these SIM cards to organize conspiracy meetings, recruit persons, collect prohibited arms and ammunitions, procure jungle camping equipment, raise funds and harbour associates, the NIA said in the charge sheet.
“They were also making and testing IEDs, using dark web for secret communications with foreign based handler, as part of preparations to wage jihad, after establishing a Wilayah (province) of ISIS/ Daesh in the forests in South India”, the probe agency stated.
NIA had earlier filed charge sheet against 12 accused persons under various sections of IPC and UA(P)Act.
During further investigation, the agency had revealed that chargesheeted accused Syed Ali B alias Zubair alias Vinjani (Scientist) was a highly tech-savvy and also assisted Khaja Moideen in using dark web, encrypted communication to communicate with a foreign based handler and had also participated in conspiracy meetings and arranged safe hide-outs.
In order to further this conspiracy, he had also procured explosive materials and gadgets to experiment with IEDs, the NIA said, adding that further investigation in the case has been under progress.(UNI)
