ISIS recruit Areeb Majeed wants to argue case himself

In his application, Areeb Majeed cited the case of Saquib Nachan, who was convicted in connection with the 2003 blast case

The alleged Islamic State (ISIS) recruit Areeb Majeed does not want an advocate to conduct his trial. Instead, he wants to argue in person before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court. On Thursday, Majeed moved an application seeking permission to conduct the case on his own and to discontinue the services of his lawyer.

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Areeb Majeed, along with three other youths from Kalyan had left to join the Islamic State in May 2014 on the pretext of a pilgrimage.(Rishikesh Choudhary/HT)

Majeed is facing the charge of having participated in terrorist attacks against Iraq and Syria, as an ISIS member.

He had appointed former chief public prosecutor and the NIA’s special public prosecutor, Rohini Salian, to fight his case.

The trial began last month, with the prosecution bringing in its first witness — the owner of the tour operator through which Majeed and his four friends left India and joined the terror group.

On Thursday, the prosecution was scheduled to examine a second witness in the case. However, before the witness could be called, Majeed moved this application before the court.

In his application, Majeed cited the case of Saquib Nachan, who was convicted in connection with the 2003 blast case. Nachan had studied while he was lodged in jail, eventually presenting his case on his own before the same court.

The court has now adjourned the case for a hearing on the application. Before such an application can be approved, Majeed will have to obtain a no objection certificate from Salian and present it to the court, according to procedure.