Kerala: NIA Files supplementary Charge-Sheet Against Terrorists Sidhikhul Aslam and Muhammad in ISIS Omar AL Hindi Module Case

NIA filed supplementary charge-sheet in the Special NIA Court, Ernakulum, Kerala against Sidhikhul Aslam aged 31yrs, r/o Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala under sections 120B of IPC and 38 and 39 of UA (P) Act and against Muhammad Polakkanni aged 28 yrs, r/o Kozhikode, Kerala under sections 120B of IPC and 18, 18B, 20, 38 and 39 of UA (P) Act.

The case was registered suo-motu by NIA on 1st October 2016, based on credible information regarding the conspiracy and the consequent formation of the ISIS/ Daish-inspired terrorist module Ansarul Khilafa-KL, by certain youth from Southern India, with the intention of furthering the objectives of ISIS. Five accused persons were arrested by NIA on 2nd October 2016 from Kanakamala in Kannur district, while preparing to carry out terrorist attacks in Kerala and Tamil Nadu by targeting prominent persons including judges, police officers and politicians and places of tourist importance where foreigners, especially Jews, congregate.

In this case, six members of the ISIS/ Daish-inspired terrorist module, namely Manseed Muhmood, Swalih Mohammed, Rashid Ali, Ramshad N. K., Safran P. and Moinudheen P. K. were convicted by the Hon’ble Special Court on 27th November 2019 for offences under the IPC and UA(P) Act. They were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from three to fourteen years along with fine.

Further investigation has established that accused Sidhikhul Aslam, had conspired with convicted members of the ISIS/ Daish-inspired terrorist module and attempted to recruit more persons into the ISIS/ Daish, for furthering its objectives in India. He was arrested in this case on 28th October 2020, following his return from Saudi Arabia.

The investigation has also established that accused Mohammad Polakkanni had actively conspired with the convicted persons to propagate violent extremism by actively disseminating materials supporting Jihadi ideology and to effect terrorist attacks in South India. He had also travelled to Georgia during early-2018, with the intention of crossing over to Turkey and eventually to Syria to join the Islamic State. He was arrested by Georgian authorities while attempting to illegally cross-over to Turkey, using a fake passport. He was arrested in this case on 19th September 2020, following his return from Georgia.