The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: In a significant development, a Libya-based terrorist has been named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet in the ISIS/IS terror conspiracy case connected with the global terror network’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) linked module.
The chargesheet was filed by the NIA before a special court in Mumbai on Friday.
Maharashtra resident Mohammed Zoheb Khan, who was arrested in February, has been chargesheeted in the case.
However, along with him, Libya-based Mohammed Shoeb Khan, a wanted accused in the conspiracy too was named in the chargesheet.
Zoheb was recruited by Shoeb and they hatched a plot to promote ISIS’ anti-India agenda, recruit vulnerable youth to carry out terrorist strikes at sensitive installations across the country.
“The NIA, in the chargesheet, has exposed international linkages in the conspiracy with involvement of foreign-based handlers of ISIS/IS. Investigations in the case earlier by the anti-terror agency had revealed a web of anti-India activities involving the two accused. NIA, which has been working relentlessly to dismantle the ISIS network of modules in India, had found that the two men had taken 'bayath' (pledge of allegiance) towards the self-proclaimed Khalifa of ISIS,” the agency said in the chargesheet.
“The accused, who had planned to flee to Afghanistan or Turkey after executing a series of terror attacks in India as part of the conspiracy, were also found to be actively involved in developing a website for the promotion of extremist and violent ideology of ISIS. They planned to attract youth from across the world into the ISIS fold through the website,” the NIA said.
“Investigations had further revealed that Mohammed Zoheb Khan, who was recruited by Mohammed Shoeb Khan, had created a WhatsApp group. He had added more than 50 youth from Aurangabad area to the group with an intent to radicalise and recruit them for furthering the nefarious activities of ISIS in India. The accused had been sharing videos related to manufacturing of explosives and fabrication of IEDs. They had also prepared a detailed plan of action, which included planning, preparation and execution of terror attacks at multiple places in India and actions to be taken after the execution of attacks. The accused persons had conspired to endanger the safety and security of India, its secular ethos and culture, and the democratic systems of governance, NIA investigations had revealed,” it said.