The Quint has obtained details of 13 of the 14 men recently arrested by the National Investigation Agency for their alleged links to ISIS. NIA claims the men have confessed to their involvement in terror activities when confronted with evidence. In a 10-month surveillance operation, NIA recorded conversations between the suspects and ISIS handlers in Syria.
NIA claims Shafi Armar, an ISIS member based in Syria, was in constant touch with the suspects, mainly via social media. All 14 men were recruited by Armar and Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, ISIS’s alleged ‘leader’ in India. Their objectives – to radicalise and recruit more youth and carry out terror strikes in India. Their profiles suggest that most of them came from humble backgrounds and were good with computers and information technology.
Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, alias Abu Musab, was the alleged leader of the group. It is believed that his job was to radicalise and recruit youngsters online.
Investigators believe that Shafi Armar, recruited Shaikh to execute his plan to expand ISIS network in India. Shaikh was a software programmer.
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