Hyderabad ‘IS recruits’ under scanner: NIA quizzes preacher on ‘conspiracy’

According to NIA sources, the preacher is part of the group of 11 men under the scanner in the case and is suspected to have motivated the men to establish Sharia rule in the country. “The group had great trust in this man and his knowledge of the religious text. He is well versed in Arabic and interpreted tenets of holy books to the group members. Those interrogated say he was a source of motivation,” an NIA source said.

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Earlier, following the arrest of over 20 men for suspected links with the IS, the NIA arrested Delhi cleric Abdus Sami Qasmi for allegedly making inflammatory speeches and motivating the group. The NIA is now exploring the possibility of connections between the two groups.

Unlike most IS recruits, none of those under scanner in the present case has as yet revealed any plans to travel to Syria and Iraq, where IS claims to have established a Caliphate. “Generally the ultimate aim of IS recruits is to go to the Caliphate. But these men, at this moment, seem to be more interested in establishing Sharia rule in India. They have said during interrogation that they believed that to establish Sharia law it was important to act against non-believers,” an NIA officer said.

On Friday the agency got 12-day custody of the five accused from a Hyderabad court. During the next 12 days the agency will interrogate them on their targets and larger conspiracy.

Initial interrogation revealed that two pistols that the group had acquired were meant for targeting important individuals. However, no specific targets were revealed during interrogation so far. Sources said the accused were waiting for instructions from Shafi Armar, an Indian Mujahideen-turned-IS recruiter controlling the group from Syria.

“They had, however, made elaborate plans on how to escape after an assassination. They had scouted for some hideouts in the city. They had also planned to rent an accommodation where they would hide after a hit job,” an NIA officer said. The agency believes that they had also not finalised specific bombing targets.

The NIA last Wednesday arrested Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani, Mohammed Habeeb, Fahad and Rizwan Mohammed from old Hyderabad area.