Maharashtra: Sambhaji Nagar graphic designer was plotting attacks, says NIA

NIA raided multiple locations in Sambhaji Nagar. File pic

A 42-year-old graphic designer from Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra has been remanded in NIA custody in connection with an ISIS recruitment module. The NIA claims that the accused, identified as Mohammad Zoheb Khan, was in touch with foreign handlers and was planning to join ISIS.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), they arrested Khan on Thursday following raids at multiple locations in the ISIS Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar module case, involving a conspiracy to target vital installations.

"Raids were conducted at the houses of various suspects at nine locations in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) by the NIA teams, which seized several electronic gadgets and incriminating documents etc. related to the case. One person, identified as Mohammed Zoheb Khan, was arrested during the crackdown," NIA said in a statement Khan was produced before the special NIA court where he didn't even have a lawyer to represent him; a lawyer present in the court appeared for Khan.

Suspect shared videos of ‘Bayath' to Syria. Representation Pic

The NIA told the court that they needed his custody to investigate the larger conspiracy. According to sources, Khan came in contact with ISIS handlers through telegram and was found to be in touch with foreign handlers. It is also alleged that he had been recruiting people for the terror outfit. Officials have also found that he had approached the Afghanistan embassy, which is being investigated. Khan has told NIA that he had no ill intentions and was just planning to visit the country.

"The case against Mohammed Zoheb Khan was registered by the NIA Mumbai based on inputs that he and his associates had taken ‘Bayath' (pledged allegiance) to the ISIS Khalifa and had planned to target various establishments. They were also involved in radicalising and recruiting gullible youth, both physically and over social media, to join ISIS and promote its violent ideology," the statement read.

As per NIA investigations, the accused and other suspects were in constant touch with their foreign-based handlers to further the activities of the global terror network, both in India and abroad. They were sharing incriminating videos of ‘Bayath', along with materials related to violent jihad and Hijrah to Syria. Previously, NIA had registered multiple cases related to ISIS recruitment in Maharashtra and has arrested several people in different cases.

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No of locations raided