Karnataka: NIA arrests Islamic State operatives Abu Hajir Al Badri and Ameen Zuhaib from Bhatkal

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested ISIS operatives from Bhatkal in Karnataka in a coordinated counter-terrorism operation led by India’s Intelligence agency, NIA and the state Police.

According to the NIA, Jufri Jawhar Damudi aka Abu Hajir Al Badri is a key ISIS operative. He was arrested along with one of his associates Ameen Zuhaib on August 6.

Abu Hajir Al Badri was in the notice of the central probe agencies since April 2020 for the production of ISIS propaganda online magazine “Voice of Hind”. He was also in direct contact with Islamic State leaders in Khorasan (Afghanistan) and Syria.

Abu Hajir Al Badri was also looking after logistical support including procurement of arms and explosives, funding for mujahideen and recruitment.

The NIA further stated that the ISIS operative also instigated his cyber contacts to kill kafirs (disbelievers), police personnel, journalists etc and inflicting damage to temples and government properties.

“On cyberspace, Abu Hajir Al Badri claimed to be based in Afghanistan/Pakistan and was taking all security precautions to evade his detection by the intelligence agencies. Despite his claim to be based in Khorasan/Pakistan on social media, it was assessed that ‘Abu Hajir Al Badri’ might be based in India and not Khorasan,” it said.

“Based on this assessment and the leads developed through the revelations of Qasim Khurasani aka Umar Nisar (arrested on July 11, 2021), further intelligence investigation by Indian central agencies in co-ordination with foreign agencies, the real identity of Abu Hajir Al Badri was established as Bhatkal-based Jufri Jawhar Damudi,” the NIA added.