NIA discovers Kashmir link in ISIS Amroha module

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency has found a Kashmir link of Islamic State inspired Amroha module - Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’ led by Mufti Mohammad Suhail alias Hazrath, with one of the cadres claiming that he had travelled to Tral, Rajouri and Bandipora twice last year and had sought arms training by a Pakistani trained “Mujahideen”.
The facts have been revealed during questioning of Suhail’s close aide – Saqib Iftekar (26), who worked as an Imam at Jama Masjid in Baksar, Uttar Pradesh, and helped module procure weapons for their plan to carry out fidayeen attacks in North India on politicians and government establishments.
Saqib, sources say, has disclosed that he alongwith another person, who has been identified but yet to be arrested, travelled to South Kashmir first in May and then in August last year. They had several meetings there for religious purposes in Rajouri and Bandipora.
Later, Saqib and his accomplice met a Maulvi in Tral, which also happens to be hometown of slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, asking him to arrange a meeting with a “Mujahideen” (terrorist).
“Saqib told this Kashmiri Mufti about his plans to get training from a Kashmiri Mujahid as they are trained in arms, bombs and attack government officials. The Kashmiri Mufti informed him that he knows such person,” said an officer, requesting anonymity. Officials say that they are verifying whether the meeting with the terrorist happened or not.
A NIA team is already in Tral to look for this Kashmiri Mufti and his Mujahideen contact.
Another member of Amroha module – Zubair Malik (20), a resident of Jaffrabad in Delhi and a student of BA third year at Delhi university, has told NIA officials that he was tasked to buy similar mobile phones for the group. “They bought similar smart phones with detachable batteries and everytime they made a call or had a chat, they were asked to remove the batteries so that their phones cannot be tracked,” said the officer.
Anas Yunus (24), another member in the group, has disclosed that he used to create a new Telegram group everyday on which they discussed their plans and then he deleted it in the night.
Their leader Mufti Suhail is still being questionned by NIA sleuths about his online handler – identified as Abu Malik Peshawari.
The agency has arrested 11 persons in the case so far and has recovered explosive items, emails conversations, texts and chats, which are being forensically analysed.