On January 5, 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two ISIS operatives, Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh of Udupi District and Huzair Farhan Baig of Shivamogga District. NIA conducted a search operation at six locations across Karnataka in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Davanagere and Bengaluru in connection with the Shivamogga ISIS conspiracy case that led to the arrest of two ISIS Operatives.
The task force made confirmation that the arrested Reshann Shekih is the son of Karnataka Congress leader Thajuddin Sheikh. Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh and Huzair Farhan Baig acquired funding through Cryto-wallets from ISIS handlers to promote terror activity in India.
As per the statement of NIA, Maaz Muneer, the close associate and collegemate of Resshan Thajuddin radicalised him. The agency arrested Maaz Muneer in September 2022.
NIA added, “As part of their larger violent and disruptionist designs, they also indulged in arson and targeting of vehicles and other establishments, such as liquor shops, godowns, transformers etc.”
NIA conducts searches at 06 locations and arrests 02 operatives in connection with Shivamogga ISIS Conspiracy Case pic.twitter.com/ZZoFAVUCth
— NIA India (@NIA_India) January 6, 2023
A day after the arrest of terror suspect Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh by NIA, the photos of the accused’s father with congress leaders surfaced on the internet. Reshann Thajuddin was arrested from Varamballi, in Brahmavar, Udupi.
It is also reported that Thajuddin Sheikh has a close association with former Chief Minister of Karnataka and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC president DK Shivakumar, and UT Khader. Thajuddin is the general secretary of the Brahamvar Block Congress in Udupi.
Notably, Thajuddin belongs to Dakshin Kannada’s restive region which has seen horrific communal conflicts and murders.
NIA registered a case on November 15, 2022, initially, the case was registered at Shivamogga Rural Police station on September 19, 2022.
Shivamogga police registered an FIR in September naming Shariq, 24, Maaz Ahmed, 22, and Syed Yasin, 22, for their alleged involvement in carrying out an experimental bomb blast in Shivamogga.
In September, NIA arrested two persons named Maaz Muneer Ahmad (22) and Syed Yasin (21) with a link to the terror group Islamic State.
On January 7, 2023, BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat attacked the Congress party following the arrest of the Congress leader’s son in a connection with the terror group ISIS.
BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat said, “He is already been arrested and is being questioned further. There is worrisome information in the investigation. There should be a thorough investigation of the coastal region. These kinds of activities are happening for a long time in coastal regions and we have emphasised the same even during hijab protests. After the pressure cooker incident these kinds of incidents are emerging in the coastal region, and it is getting more aggravated here. NIA should give special focus to this region.”
“Therefore, when these kinds of Congress leaders get involved in these kinds of activities, Congress have to take the onus of it. Now Congress has to give answers since Tajuddin’s son has been arrested in terror activities,” the BJP MLA added.
BJP has also made allegations that these types of terror activities is happening in coastal regions for a long time and it was stressed even during the hijab protest.
