Did the NIA File a Supplementary Charge Sheet in the TN ISIS Radicalisation Case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Seven individuals and the Kovai Arabic Educational Association implicated in radicalisation.
- The case is linked to the 2022 Coimbatore car-bomb blast.
- Focus on online platforms used for extremist propaganda.
- Ongoing efforts to dismantle radicalisation support structures.
- Highlighting the need for vigilance in educational institutions.
New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a supplementary charge sheet against seven individuals and a registered society, the Kovai Arabic Educational Association (KAEA), regarding the 2023 Tamil Nadu ISIS radicalisation and recruitment case, as stated by the investigation agency.
This filing is part of the agency's ongoing investigation into extremist indoctrination associated with the 2022 Coimbatore car-bomb blast.
The charge sheet includes various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, listing seven students from Madras Arabic College: Mohammed Hussain, Irshath, Ahmed Ali, Aboo Hanifa, Jawahar Sadiq, Sheikh Dawood, and Raja Mohammed.
Hussain and Irshath, previously charged in an earlier filing, now face additional sections.
The KAEA society, which oversaw the college, has also been implicated as a legal entity, according to the statement. This case was registered suo motu by the NIA’s Chennai branch in August 2023, focusing on the radicalisation of susceptible youth by an IS-inspired group masquerading as providers of free Arabic language classes.
Investigators discovered that extremist sermons were shared through online platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Telegram, in addition to regular classroom sessions. These lectures, conducted live or recorded by college principal Jameel Basha, allegedly promoted radical ideology and incited students towards terrorist conduct.
Previously, the NIA had charged four individuals, including Basha himself, following an investigation into the October 2022 Coimbatore car bomb incident.
The investigation revealed that fourteen out of the eighteen accused in the Coimbatore blast were students of Kovai Arabic College, highlighting the institution's pivotal role in the recruitment network.
By including the KAEA society in its supplementary charge sheet, the NIA aims to hold both individuals and the organizational framework accountable for facilitating radicalisation.
This move is indicative of the agency’s broader strategy to dismantle support structures allowing extremist groups to operate under the guise of educational or cultural activities.
The latest filing enhances the prosecution's case against those accused of propagating IS ideology and attempting to lure youth into violent extremism.
Furthermore, it underscores the agency’s sustained focus on monitoring online platforms and educational institutions that may be exploited for radicalisation.