NIA Files Charges Against Additional Suspect in TN Hizb ut Tahrir Case
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Synopsis
The NIA has charged another suspect in the Tamil Nadu Hizb ut Tahrir case, with accusations including recruitment for radicalization and efforts to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India. The investigation continues amid rising counterterrorism actions against extremist groups.
Key Takeaways
- The NIA has charged another suspect in the HuT case.
- The accused was involved in recruiting students for radicalization.
- Hizb-ut-Tahrir aims to establish an Islamic Caliphate.
- Ongoing investigations are focused on dismantling extremist networks.
- Counterterrorism operations are increasing in Tamil Nadu.
Chennai, Feb 24 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against an additional suspect in the Tamil Nadu Hizb ut Tahrir (HuT) conspiracy case.
The agency submitted a chargesheet against Aziz Ahamed @ Aziz Ahmed @ Jaleel Aziz Ahmed in the NIA Special Court located in Poonamallee, Chennai, under multiple sections of the IPC and the UA(P) Act. The case RC-01/2024/NIA/CHE pertains to a criminal conspiracy involving the banned HuT terrorist organization, aimed at propagating its anti-India ideology and enforcing the constitution formulated by its founder, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, within the nation.
According to the NIA's investigation, Aziz was implicated in a scheme that entailed the recruitment of daris/students for clandestine classes of the organization, leading to their radicalization. Alongside other accused individuals and HuT members, he was engaged in efforts to establish an Islamic caliphate in India, with military assistance (Nusra) from hostile forces.
The NIA continues its investigation into the matter.
NIA sources indicated that the arrests followed confessions from previously detained individuals linked to the case. Investigations unveiled that both Kabeer and Bava were significantly influenced by the extremist ideology of Hizb-ut-Tahrir.
The agency contends that the duo organized secret training camps aimed at radicalizing youth and convincing them to support the formation of an Islamic Caliphate.
The NIA also asserted that the accused, along with other HuT activists, organized an exhibition to showcase the military capabilities of Islamic nations. This event was purportedly designed to rally support for an armed overthrow of the Indian government through violent jihad.
The NIA's crackdown on Hizb-ut-Tahrir commenced last year following the arrest of six individuals by the Greater Chennai City Police - Hameed Hussain, Ahmad Mansoor, Abdur Rahman, Mohamed Maurice, Khadar Nawaz Sheriff, and Ahmed Ali - for allegedly sharing anti-India content on social media.
Subsequently, the NIA assumed control of the investigation in August, later apprehending two additional suspects, Aziz Ahamed and Faizul Rahman, the latter being the HuT leader in Tamil Nadu. The arrested individuals stand accused of distributing newsletters and articles promoting the violent secession of Kashmir with military backing from Pakistan. These materials were allegedly employed to radicalize youth in Tamil Nadu and other regions of South India.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir is a fundamentalist pan-Islamist organization that seeks to re-establish an Islamic Caliphate. The group adheres to the ideology of its founder, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, and aims to implement a radical constitution advocating for Sharia law globally.
The NIA has already lodged charges against eight of those arrested, accusing them of convening meetings with religious scholars (ulemas and imams) to recruit Muslim youth and promote violent extremism. These arrests follow numerous counterterrorism operations in Tamil Nadu, including the Coimbatore car bomb explosion on October 23, 2022.
The blast, which transpired near the Sangameswar Temple in Kottaimedu on the eve of Deepavali, is suspected to have been a suicide attack executed by Jamesha Mubin, who perished in the explosion.
The NIA disclosed that Mubin had pledged allegiance (bayat) to Abu Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi, the then leader of Islamic State (ISIS). As part of the ongoing inquiry, the NIA also conducted a raid on the residence of DMK councillor Mubeera, whose husband was reportedly a classmate of Jamesha Mubin at Kovai Arabic College.
Additionally, the agency had arrested Mohammed Talka, the nephew of the late S.A. Basha, founder of the banned terrorist outfit Al Umma. Basha was a principal accused in the 1998 Coimbatore bombings, which resulted in 56 fatalities and over 200 injuries.
The NIA has escalated its efforts to dismantle extremist networks across Tamil Nadu and other southern Indian states. Officials have stated that investigations into the radicalization of youth and HuT's recruitment initiatives are ongoing.
