NIA to probe ISIS recruitment bid on Kochi youth

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into alleged radicalisation bid on Kochi youth Abin Jacob (25), brother of Merin aka Mariyam, one the 20-odd persons gone missing from Kerala between May and July this year.

The case, earlier registered by the Palarivattom police in Kochi, was taken over by NIA following an order from Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) dated September 19.

Taking over the probe, NIA has submitted FIR in the case before the special court on September 24 naming Mumbai native Arshid Qureshi (45) and Yakkara native Bestin Vincent (23) aka Yahiya as first and second accused. The FIR has been registered under sections 153 A, 34 of IPC and 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). NIA Kochi unit DSP Radhakrishna Pillai will investigate the case under the supervision of SP Rahul S.

Qureshi is the guest relation officer of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of Zakir Naik. Bestin is the husband of Merin. Though the FIR by the state police had named Rizvan Khan (53) of Kalyan, Mumbai, as third accused, the FIR by NIA has omitted his name. Both Qureshi and Khan were arrested from Mumbai. Bestin had gone missing with nearly 20 youths from Kasargod and Palakkad including wife Merin, brother Bexan aka Eesa and his wife Nimisha aka Fathima.

As per the NIA FIR, Qureshi and Bestin, forced Abin and his sister Merin to get converted into Islam and tried to create communal disharmony. The accused also instigated Abin to join Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a proscribed international terrorist organisation. The alleged attempt had taken place between August and September, 2014 when Abin visited Merin who was then working in Mumbai.

The case was transferred to NIA based on information received by MoHA internal security division (IS-IV), Delhi. NIA had received a preliminary report in the case when the state police registered FIR on July 16 based on a written complaint filed by Abin.

As per the order by MoHA, preliminary inquiry into the case by NIA revealed that the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy to support and further the terrorist activities of ISIS and thus committed offences specified in the schedules of the NIA Act 2008.

The MoHA report also said that the case was of at most gravity as it is linked with cases related to the missing of youths reported from Palakkad, Kasargod and Nagapada in Mumbai. All the three cases have already been taken over by NIA. Qureshi and Khan are currently in the custody of Maharashtra anti-terrorist squad for probe into the UAPA case registered at Nagpada police station in Mumbai related to the missing of Kasargod native Ashfaque. The ministry handed over the case to NIA in exercise of the powers conferred under subsection 5 of section 6 read with section 8 of NIA Act.