ISIS youth from Kalyan reportedly met friends month after family was told he died fighting for militants

In August this year, Saheem had called his family and told them that Areeb had died. Investigations revealed that the three boys later learned that Areeb was alive but did not inform his or their own families about his well being. “Saheem, Aman and Fahad met Areeb in person in Iraq a month-and-a-half before his return to India, or in the middle of October, where Areeb told them that he had sustained bullet injuries but had escaped alive. While the three boys then returned to the IS camp, Areeb left for Turkey, from where he called his family in India, leading to his return,” said a source.

Areeb has allegedly told his interrogators that his bullet injuries were the catalyst in making him want to return to India. He is currently in NIA’s custody till December 8, and is being held at an undisclosed location in Mumbai.