Singapore-based Indian recruited people from T.N., Telangana for IS

Charges against 4 terror suspects include organising camps, raising funds

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed chargesheet against four terror suspects, including a Singapore citizen of Indian origin, Haja Fakkurudhen, in a special court on the charges of organising clandestine camps, recruiting and training persons in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, besides facilitating their travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS).

Besides Haja Fakkurudhen, 42, the chargesheet was filed against Khaja Moideen, 50, of Kattumanarkovil, Cuddalore, Shakul Hameed, 27, of Otteri, Chennai, and Ansar Meeran, 29, resident of Thiruvithamcode, Kanniyakumari for offences under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 125 (Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance) of Indian Penal Code besides provisions of Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act.

The case was registered at NIA, New Delhi, on January, 26, 2017, pursuant to the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs directing the agency to suo motu investigate information that eight accused from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, had hatched a criminal conspiracy and formed a terrorist gang with the intention of furthering the activities of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (IS). It allegedly raised and received funds, organised camps, recruited and trained some persons besides facilitated their travel to Syria to join the IS.

Propaganda video

The NIA investigation revealed that Fakkurudeen organised and attended several meetings in India with his associates, for raising funds and to recruit persons to the IS in 2013-14. He joined the IS in Syria along with his family during the last week of January, 2014, and has been seen in the propaganda video released by IS in December, 2016.

The agency said Fakkurudeen visited Chennai thrice during a span of three months in late 2013 and conducted meetings at Chennai, Keelakarai in Ramanathapuram district and Parangipettai in Cuddalore district besides one at R. T. Nagar in Bangalore, along with co-accused Khaja Moideen, Shakul Hameed, Ansar Meeran and Mohammed Thabraze, with the intention of recruiting others. Fakkurudeen last visited India on December 3, 2013, along with his family and had then left for Turkey on January 22, 2014, before crossing over to Syria and joining the IS.

Investigation also revealed that Khaja Moideen, Shakul Hameed and Ansar Meeran knowingly and wilfully assisted Fakkurudeen in joining the IS in Syria in 2014. In pursuance of the criminal conspiracy, Shakul Hameed ‘radicalised and recruited’ Abu Thahir (A-7) to the IS and travelled along with Abu Thahir to Turkey in August, 2015.

Investigation into the roles of accused Masood Asarudeen, Sadiq Basha and Noman Jameel besides that of suspects identified during the investigation is in progress.