Hyderabad August 26
“A special court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sentenced two individuals to five years in prison for promoting the activities of the proscribed ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, within the country. The convicted individuals, Abdullah Basith and Abdul Qadir, were apprehended on August 12, 2018, due to their involvement with the ISIS Abu Dhabi module and their efforts to advance its violent anti-India agenda.
The NIA Special Court, located in Delhi, handed down the sentences based on various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act, as stated by an NIA spokesperson. The duo has been ordered to serve five years behind bars and pay a fine of Rs 2,000 each.
The case’s investigation was initiated by the NIA on January 28, 2016, following instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This decision was prompted by the revelation of a significant conspiracy during the investigation of another case, according to the spokesperson.
Subsequently, the NIA uncovered a criminal conspiracy orchestrated by three Indian nationals—Sheikh Azhar Al Islam Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh, and Adnan Hussain—all affiliated with the ISIS. These individuals collaborated with unidentified associates to identify, radicalize, recruit, and train susceptible Indian Muslim youth, both within the country and abroad, for the purpose of planning and executing terrorist attacks.
The NIA submitted a charge sheet against these three individuals on July 25, 2016. In 2017, they all pleaded guilty before the NIA Special Court and received sentences of seven years imprisonment.
The NIA’s further investigations into the backgrounds of Abdullah Basith and Abdul Qadir revealed that Abdullah Basith, an active member of ISIS, was also involved in the ISIS Abu Dhabi module. He played a role in actively propagating the organization’s ideology and contributed to the larger criminal conspiracy. Basith radicalized and motivated vulnerable youth to join ISIS, collected funds from Adnan Hussain and other associates, facilitated visa and passport arrangements for radicalized individuals using the funds collected, and organized meetings with fellow associates to bolster and expand the ISIS presence in India.
Abdul Qadir, the other accused individual, came into contact with Basith after watching a television interview in May 2017. He subsequently became part of the conspiracy and provided support for promoting the ISIS ideology. He openly professed allegiance to and membership in the Islamic State and attended various ISIS meetings organized by Basith.
A supplementary charge sheet was filed against these two accused individuals on February 7, 2019.”
