A suspected terrorist, with links to the banned terror outfit al-Qaeda, has been arrested in Bengaluru following a joint operation by the Internal Security Division (ISD) of Karnataka and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The accused, identified as Mohd Arif, was working for a tech company in Bengaluru and was arrested on Saturday morning.
Based on intelligence inputs, the NIA conducted search operations in Bengaluru and Maharashtra’s Palghar on Saturday against two individuals — Arif and Hamraz Worshid Sheikh — but only one person was arrested. It was found that the accused was in touch with the Taliban and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
Preliminary interrogations have indicated that they were supporters of the Taliban and were planning to migrate to Afghanistan. Both the accused were in contact with foreign-based entities, including Pakistan nationals.
Not only this, it was also found that they shared propaganda material via online platforms and even facilitated funding for Syrian war widows through foreign-based entities.
The ISD also suspects that Arif, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was in touch with ISIS and had made preparations to join the terror outfit. The accused was already in contact with al-Qaeda.
News18 has learned that Arif had travelled to Syria through Iran in March. The NIA has seized his laptop and other electronic devices for investigation. Sources privy to the development said Arif was active on Telegram, and was again planning to go to Syria.
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