The module, led by Murshid Hasan alias Sofiq, originally from West Bengal but based in Kerala, was in an advanced stage of acquiring weapons, including rifles and automatic pistols, ammunition and explosives to attack vital facilities and carry out targeted killings in various places, including Delhi-NCR, said an NIA source.
Nine terrorists: Murshid Hasan, Iyakub Biswas and Mosaraf Hossen, all residents of Ernakulam, Kerala; and Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kamal and Atitur Rehman, all residents of Murshidabad, West Bengal, were arrested early Saturday from Ernakulam and Murshidabad in simultaneous raids by the NIA. All are “highly radicalized” and were receiving instructions from foreign manipulators, including Pakistan-based al Qaeda operatives in cyberspace. They were actively raising funds and also contributing money to buy weapons and ammunition for jihadist activities. Some members were also trying to buy weapons across the border in Bangladesh, while some like Abu Sufiyan had gained experience in making improvised explosive devices.
The module was attempting to establish a well-organized al-Qaida network in different parts of India, including the northeast and J&K, following the instructions of the Pakistan-based terror group’s operatives.
Sources told TOI that Pakistani handler Hamza would send a major shipment of weapons via drones to his partner in ‘Thanda Ilaqa’ or Kashmir, where Murshid and a few others would receive their delivery. However, the Covid-19 blockade upset the plan and the delivery location was moved to Delhi. Murshid and his aides were due to travel to New Delhi in the next few days to receive the shipment from Hamza’s associate, but the plan was thwarted by the arrests on Saturday.
According to a preliminary investigation, the nine arrested defendants were motivated by Pakistan-based Al Qaeda operatives to carry out attacks in multiple locations, including Delhi-NCR. They were about to close a deal with Hamza by receiving an arms shipment in Delhi, followed by immediate terrorist attacks.
The head of the module, Murshid, according to the sources, works as a casual worker but is inspired by the ideology of al-Qaida. He would post jihadist videos on social media to radicalize like-minded youth. Murshid also used encrypted platforms to communicate with Pakistani-based manipulators and came into contact with Hamza, who further indoctrinated him in the ideology of Al Qaeda.
Murshid had gone to Kerala almost a year and a half ago and had been working there. “I had last visited (West Bengal) a few months after moving to Kerala. He sent money regularly. We thought he would come after the confinement, but he didn’t, ”said his wife, Mafroja Bibi. Seven of the nine arrested do petty jobs, although Atitur Rahman is in his second year of graduation and Najmus Sakib is pursuing a degree in computer science.
Mosaraf, a close associate of Murshid, was planning to buy a gun across the border in Bangladesh for 1 lakh rupees. It was also in discussion about the purchase and price of bullets and a 9mm pistol. “Mosaraf Hossen is the father of two children. His daughter studies at an English middle school in Perumbavoor and his son is just four years old. Why would anyone suspect that this family man was a terrorist? ”Said Abu Bakkar, Mosaraf’s employer.
Mainul Mondal contributed 10,000 rupees during an exercise to raise funds for the purchase of weapons. He participated in a discussion about buying arms from across the border in Bangladesh.
Leu Yean Ansari had already acquired a nationally made weapon, which has been recovered. An armored jacket made by himself was also recovered from him, “which shows his willingness to participate in an armed confrontation with the security forces,” said an NIA official. “Investigators knocked on our doors at dawn. They asked about my brother. Later, they confiscated our phones and my laptop, ”said Ansari’s brother, Rizwan. Abu Sufiyan was planning to establish a shed for explosives. During the search in his house, materials to make bombs such as pipes, crackers, switches, nuts, as well as literature on the assembly of homemade bombs were recovered. Other “incriminating” recoveries during Saturday’s raids included digital devices, documents, jihadist literature and sharp weapons.
.
