Has the NIA Charged Hizb ut-Tahrir Operatives for Plotting a Caliphate in India?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The NIA has charged three operatives of Hizb ut-Tahrir for conspiracy.
- They aimed to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India.
- Foreign military support was sought from hostile nations.
- Radicalization efforts targeted vulnerable youth.
- The investigation into the group's network is still ongoing.
New Delhi, Aug 1 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a charge sheet against three members of the proscribed terrorist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) for allegedly plotting to disseminate the group's radical ideology and attempting to acquire funds from overseas to facilitate its illegal activities.
The individuals in question - Kabeer Ahmed Aliyar alias Kabeer Ahmed, Aziz Ahamed alias Jaleel Aziz Ahmed, and Bava Bahrudeen alias Mannai Bava - face charges under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in case RC-01/2024/NIA/CHE.
As per the NIA, these individuals conspired with HuT leaders to create an “Islamic Caliphate” within India.
The agency asserts that they sought military assistance from adversarial foreign entities, including the Pakistan Army, and attempted to utilize Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage routes to gain covert support for their extremist objectives.
The NIA stated, “The accused entered into a criminal conspiracy with HuT officials to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India by seeking military aid from forces hostile to India, and to enforce the constitution devised by HuT's founder, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani.”
Furthermore, investigations revealed that the accused were actively involved in radicalizing impressionable youth through secretive “bayan” (sermon) classes.
They reportedly indoctrinated individuals with HuT’s ultra-conservative ideology, which was officially banned by the Government of India in October 2024, along with all its affiliated organizations.
In a particularly alarming turn, the accused had also organized an exhibition showcasing the military capabilities of Islamic nations such as Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan. This event was allegedly designed to incite support for the violent overthrow of India’s democratically elected government.
The investigation by the NIA into this broader conspiracy remains ongoing, as it continues to uncover the network and international connections of the banned group.