NIA files charge sheet against a second Indian recruit of IS

NEW DELHI: The quest of Indian boys to join the Islamic State (IS) is putting a strain on filial bonds and resulting in strange legal situations.

NEW DELHI: The quest of Indian boys to join the Islamic State (IS) is putting a strain on filial bonds and resulting in strange legal situations.

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In a charge sheet against an Indian boy, Mohamed Naser, who tried to join the IS in Sudan last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made his father a prime witness against him.

This is the NIA’ s second charge sheet against an alleged IS recruit. Naser was chargesheeted on Friday by the federal anti-terror agency.

The first case was of Areeb Majeed, a Kalyan boy who had managed to reach the IS-held area two years back and took part in combat there alongside the terror outfit’s fighters but came back to India after getting injured.

According to investigators Naser’s father is a crucial witness of the NIA in the case.

“In fact, we have got recorded his statement before a magistrate as well. Naser was in regular touch with his father and sent him emails and messages on mobile phone that he had reached Sudan as he wanted to join the IS,” said an official of the NIA who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Like Majeed before him, Naser, 23, was also charged under section 125 (waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with the government of India) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 18B (punishment of recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act), 38 (offence relating to the membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (offence relating to the support given to a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Naser was working in Dubai when he started looking for persons associated with IS on the internet. He managed to find a person who told him he should come to Sudan and join IS in Libya as it was difficult to reach Syria due to security at the border. But Naser was arrested in Sudan and deported back to India.

The NIA is filing another charge sheet against another alleged IS sympathiser, Mohammed Sirajuddin, in Jaipur on Saturday. Sirajuddin was working with the Indian Oil Corporation when he was arrested by the local police on charges of recruiting for the IS.