The National Investigation Agency (NIA)has arrested a 19-year-old student of Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over his alleged links with terrorist organisation ISIS, PTI reported. Faizan Ansari alias ‘Faiz’ has been sent to Birsa Munda Jail after he was produced in the Ranchi NIA special court.
The arrest of Ansari comes as NIA launched a crackdown against ISIS modules operating in the country, a spokesperson of the agency told PTI.
The NIA official said investigations have revealed that Ansari and his associates had pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State. NIA said Ansari was part of a conspiracy that was aimed at carrying out violent terror attacks in India on behalf of ISIS.
During searches at Ansari’s house in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district and rented room in Aligarh, NIA recovered several electronic devices and incriminating material. The searches were conducted on July 16 and 17, PTI reported.
“Ansari had hatched a criminal conspiracy, along with his associates and other unknown individuals, through social media platforms to support ISIS activities in India and disseminate the outfit’s propaganda over various social media platforms. The conspiracy was aimed at carrying out violent terror attacks in India on behalf of ISIS,” the spokesperson said.
Ansari has been booked under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The agency said Ansari was also radicalising youths in a bid to increase the ISIS cadre base in India.
“Ansari was also active in the process of radicalizing neo-converts and attracting them to the terrorist fold for enriching the cadre base of ISIS in India. He was in contact with foreign based ISIS handlers, who were guiding him on recruitments to the banned outfit,” the NIA spokesperson said, PTI reported.
“Along with other members of ISIS, he was planning violent actions and was contemplating doing ‘Hijrat’ (migration) to a ISIS conflict theatre abroad,” he further said.
The NIA will also probe if there is an international conspiracy pertaining to the case.