70 people from Mumbai, Maharashtra on ISIS hit list: ATS charge sheet

At least 70 people from Mumbai and Maharashtra are on the ‘very important kill list’ of the ISIS, reveals the anti-terrorism squad’s (ATS) charge sheet on the Parbhani module.

At least 70 people from Mumbai and Maharashtra are on the ‘very important kill list’ of the ISIS, reveals the anti-terrorism squad’s (ATS) charge sheet on the Parbhani module.

The charge sheet has alleged that the people who are on the hit list are those who have hacked websites and social media accounts related to ISIS to gather information about the terrorist group. (HT Photo for Representation)

In July, the ATS arrested four suspected ISIS recruits, including Naseer Bin Yafai Chaus, 31, a civil contactor.

Recovered from Chaus’ mobile phone, the hit list includes names of 292 people across India and 4,681 people across the world.

Chaus was arrested from Parbhani for preparing low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) which was to be used to attack the police headquarters in Aurangabad.

The charge sheet has alleged that the people who are on the hit list are those who have hacked websites and social media accounts related to ISIS to gather information about the terrorist group. The list includes names, email ID, place of their work, their designation, mobile numbers, residential addresses and their nationality.

The police, while going through Chaus’ mobile phone, found that he was a part of an extremist group Ansal Al Khilafah, that is associated with ISIS.

The charge sheet said the group was active on Telegram, a mobile application, and Chaus was member. The investigators found that a member named Ubu Uzair had circulated a message of ‘Cyber caliphate of ISIS’. The message contained a file under the title ‘wanted kill list’. The agency has not divulged the names mentioned in the hit list.

The ATS recovered an e-book from his mobile phone called ‘Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone wolf Mujahideen and small cell’.

The ATS has alleged that Chaus was in touch with a man named Farooque from Syria who is shown as a wanted accused on social networking sites. He had created multiple IDs for chat rooms used by the foreign handlers of ISIS. Farooque sent Chaus a links that helped him prepare the IED.