The arrested terrorists were running digital sleeper cells to radicalize and recruit youths from Jammu & Kashmir. Further investigation by the NIA is underway.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three terrorists affiliated with the banned organization Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The accused were arrested on Sunday (July 11), according to the NIA, in connection with an India-centric online monthly propaganda magazine that was created to instigate and radicalize India's naïve youth.
"Yesterday, NIA arrested three accused persons namely Umar Nisar, resident of Magray Mohalla Achabal, Anantnag district; Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, resident of Gori Mohalla Achabal, Anantnag; and Rameez Ahmad Lone resident of Chak Achabal Anantnag in a case registered by NIA on June 29 under sections 124A, 153A, and 153B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 17, 18, 18B, 38, 39 and 40 of UA(P) Act 1967 in connection with the conspiracy of the proscribed terrorist organization ISIS to radicalize and recruit impressionable youth in India to wage violent jihad against the Indian State," NIA said.
The investigating agency said the terrorists operating from various conflict zones along with cadres in India, by assuming pseudo-online identities, had created a network wherein ISIS-related propaganda material was disseminated for radicalizing and recruiting members.
"In this connection, an India-Centric online propaganda magazine 'the Voice of Hind' (VOH) is published on a monthly basis to incite and radicalize impressionable youth. NIA had earlier conducted searches at the premises of the arrested accused and recovered a large number of incriminating documents, multiple digital devices, and T-shirts with the ISIS logo.”
"Preliminary examination of the seized material and examination of the accused persons revealed that they are active cadres of ISIS and have been using cyberspace to propagate inciting material by the online magazine (VOH)," the statement said.
It added that examination of the arrested accused led to searches at two more locations in Anantnag district in which several digital devices and other materials have been seized.
"Investigation in the case continues," it added.
(With inputs from ANI)
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