Uttar Pradesh: A 19-year-old student of Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday for his alleged links with ISIS, a proscribed terrorist organization.
The NTA has identified the accused, Faizan Ansari alias Faiz, who was apprehended during searches at his residence and rented accommodation in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. These operations were part of the NIA’s crackdown on ISIS modules operating within the country. Faizan has been taken into custody in connection with a case registered by the NIA on July 19, under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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The agency is actively pursuing its investigations to uncover all aspects of the international conspiracy involved. Searches were carried out at Faizan’s residence in Lohardaga district, Jharkhand, and a rented room in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, on July 16 and 17. During these searches, several electronic devices, incriminating materials, and documents were seized by the anti-terror agency.
According to the NIA, Faizan, along with his associates and unidentified individuals, plotted a criminal conspiracy using social media platforms to support ISIS activities in India and disseminate the outfit’s propaganda. The main objective of this conspiracy was to carry out violent terror attacks in India on behalf of ISIS.
“Investigations have revealed that Faizan and his associates pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Moreover, the accused was actively involved in radicalizing new converts and luring them into the terrorist fold, with the aim of strengthening ISIS’s presence in India,” said NIA.
“Faizan was in communication with ISIS handlers based abroad, who provided guidance on recruitment for the banned outfit. Additionally, he and other ISIS members were planning violent actions and contemplating traveling to an ISIS conflict zone overseas,” NIA added.
