Vijayawada, July 8 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids are underway in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada in connection with a terror links case, officials said on Wednesday.

The NIA officials began searches in the Vinchipeta area. The case, which was recently transferred to the NIA, pertains to alleged terror links, according to the investigators.

Earlier in April, Mohammad Rahamatullah Sharif, 23, Md. Danish, 27, and Mirza Sohail Baig, 23, all residents of Vijayawada; Sayeeda Begum, 38, from Hyderabad and Abdul Salam from Bellary (Karnataka) were arrested in connection with the case. They had shared details of their alleged plans to carry out terror activities in India.

As part of the investigation, NIA officials are conducting search operations at the residences of the accused to ascertain whether they had links with any other individuals or organisations.

The investigators had earlier found out that the accused in the terror network case were allegedly working to expand the activities of AQIS and ISIS in India on the direction of foreign handler Al-Hakeem Shukoor.

During interrogation, the accused told the officials that they came in contact with Shukoor through social media.

The accused, who had formed a group called ‘Al-Malik Islamic Youth’, confessed that they had Jihadi tendencies from the beginning, but these got further strengthened after they came in contact with Shukoor.

The accused revealed that on his direction, they were trying to expand AQIS and ISIS activities in the country. They were also trying to incite youth to carry out suicide attacks.

Instagram and Telegram groups under the name ‘BENX COM’ were created. Those who wanted to carry out terror attacks and even lay down their lives for ‘jihad’ were allegedly made members of these groups. The accused were said to be in regular touch with these members.

Some Pakistanis were also said to be members of these groups. Shukoor had allegedly told the accused that arms and explosives required for subversive activities in India would be supplied by these members.

On Shukoor’s orders, they were luring youth into terror activities to send them to Pakistan and Afghanistan for training.

The accused told the investigators that they never met Shukoor personally but came to know him through social media.

At his direction, they developed links with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and ISIS. On his orders, they were working for ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ and expanding their network.

The accused told officials that they were working with the goal of turning India into an Islamic nation. As part of this, they want to replace the Indian flag with the ISIS flag.

The accused, on the direction of the foreign handler, had also planned a dedicated women’s wing to be headed by Sayeeda Begum. They had plans to train recruits in sniper rifles, guns, black powder bombs, and IEDs to spread terror in India.

The investigators questioned the accused about what attracted them to Jihadi activities, how they got introduced to foreign handlers, their plans for terror attacks in India and who was behind the ‘BENX COM’ groups.

The police busted the network with the arrest of Rahamatullah Sharif, Danish, and Sohail Baig.

The counter-intelligence cell arrested the accused after keeping a tab on their activities on social media platforms.

Sayeeda Begum was arrested from Hyderabad last month, and the other accused from various other states.

The accused were allegedly attempting to influence and radicalise youth through Instagram, Telegram and other social media to indulge in terrorist activities.

A case was registered against the accused under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), BNS and the Information Technology Act at Vijayawada Two Town Police Station.

The FIR named 12 accused, hailing from various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

–IANS

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