2 ‘IS sympathisers’ acquitted of terror charges in state case

Another Youth Convicted Under IPC

 

Mateen.Hafeez@timesgroup.com

Mumbai: In one of the fastest trials in a state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) case, a special Akola court on Tuesday acquitted two persons, suspected to be Islamic State (IS) sympathisers, of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) charges. But the court convicted another accused, Abdul Malik (23), in the case to three years’ imprisonment for stabbing a police constable in 2015 to protest against the beef ban in the state. Malik was convicted under Indian Penal Code, and ATS could not prove the UAPA charges against him too.

Malik, a pharmacist, had attacked a constable in Pusad, Yavatmal, on Eid ul Zuha (Bakra Eid) in September 2015. He was held and his interrogation led police to another accused, Shoaib Khan, who Malik said instigated him. Though both are from Pusad, Malik and Khan met in a radical chatroom online and found they were from the same place, police said. Khan, son of a retired state irrigation officer, and Mujeeb Rehman, imam of Pusad’s Jama Masjid, were later arrested. ATS claimed the three youth were part of a module preparing to join IS. Police had earlier said that Rehman had brainwashed all youngsters in the group and exhorted them to join IS. During interactions, however, the youths learnt that Rehman had demanded dowry from his wife and this ‘un-Islamic act’ led to divisions, said a police officer.

Police had earlier said that during interrogation Khan told them that in case of failure to join IS, the group had kept the option of joining the Taliban in Afghanistan open. Police had said the arrested persons’ mobile phones contained instigative speeches by banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. Malik’s statement was recorded before a magistrate after his arrest.

Advocates Ali Raza Khan and Najeeb Shaikh appeared before court for the accused. Ali, who represented Khan and Rehman, said there were 100 witnesses in the case. “ATS could not prove the UAPA charges. Police had accused them of terror activities and said they were planning to go abroad and meet terrorists. ATS showed Rehman as the mastermind but could not prove the allegations. We had demanded compensation for the accused. Now that they have been acquitted, we will approach court for compensation. The youth have lost three-and-ahalf years of their lives behind bars,” said Ali.

Special UAPA judge A S Jadhave sentenced Malik to three years’ imprisonment, but he was released as he has spent three-and-a-half years behind bars.

The Times of India, May 23, 2019

Bomb chat: 6 Kerala youths released

Mateen Hafeez





Mumbai: Six Kerala youths, who were questioned by three government agencies over the last two days after a commuter in local train heard them talking about `bomb', were given clean chit and released on Tuesday.The youths, including a minor, got down at Panvel and took atrain for CST on Monday . While in the train, a co-passenger heard them using the word `bomb' repeatedly over the phone and alerted the police.
Niket Kaushik, police commissioner (Railways), said, “The ATS, RPF and GRP questioned them and nothing adverse was found. They were released."

“Due to network problem the person on the other side was unable to hear so they were repeating the word bomb (for Bombay). We checked their mobile phones and other belongings and found that they were telling the truth,“ said an officer. The complainant passenger had also told police that the youths were chatting through WhatsApp on anumber with country code +97.Later, it transpired that fathers of three youths work in the middle east and the message was for one of them.


The Times of India, May 25, 2017

Cops raid home of Babbar Khalsa man

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: In a joint operation with the Punjab counter-intelligence team, the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday raided the agricultural land and house of Nishant Singh (27), member of the Sikh terrorist outfit, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). They recovered an AK-47, four other fire arms and 128 live cartridges.

Singh, who was arrested on Saturday by the ATS in Chembur, had been on the run after firing at Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials in Punjab on December 27, 2009. Singh was arrested soon after he arrived in the city from Nanded with his five associates, who were all given a clean chit.

“In Delke village in Tarantaran district, the police teams recovered an AK-47 with 110 rounds, a 0.30 Chinese pistol, a 9mm Belgium-made pistol with eight rounds, a 0.32 French pistol and a 0.32 Kanpur Ordinance Factory made pistol with 10 rounds,’’ said ATS chief Rakesh Maria. “His father, Karamsingh Joginder (55) and uncle Gurbakhsh Singh (35) were arrested in 1991 for carrying one kg heroine and jailed for 10 years. In 2007, the duo was caught for carrying two kg heroine and jailed for 10 years,’’ he added.

Singh’s father owns a 13-acre agricultural land in Punjab. “Singh has told us that he procured the weapons from across the border. We are still probing the case,’’ added Maria. Singh, in the last few years, has traded in 150 kg of heroine, Maria added.

On Saturday, the police had seized a 12 bore rifle with 24 rounds, two 0.32 pistols and a Toyota Innova. Singh has been remanded in police custody till June 28.

Singh, who was a sepoy in the army, had served in Kargil, Siachen and Jammu & Kashmir. He has not reported to duty for the past four years.

THE CATCH: The police seized a rifle, two pistols and 24 rounds from the accused on Saturday

The Times of India, June 23, 2010