Pramesh S Jain & Binish Thomas (Sub-Editor)
T he National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge-sheeted two more terrorists in the Karnataka Al-Hind ISIS module case relating to a major terror conspiracy involving targeted killings and other jihadi activities.
The accused,Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib,were both resident of Thirthahalli, Shivamogga District, Karnataka.
They were involved in a larger terror conspiracy of ISIS, and had been absconding until they were arrested in Rameshwaram cafe blast case on April 12 2024.
In its second supplementary charge-sheet filed in the conspiracy case has charged the duo under various sections of IPC and UA (P) Act.
So far, a total of 18 accused have been chargesheeted in the case, which NIA took over from the Bengaluru City police on January 23 2020.
NIA investigations have revealed that Abdul Matheen Taha was self-radicalized and had,in turn,radicalized and recruited Mussavir Hussain Shazib and others.
In 2018,Taha was introduced to online handler Bhai alias Laptop Bhai and went on to introduce Bhai to Mehaboob Pasha,who had formed the Al-Hind Trust in collaboration with his family members in Gurupanapallaya,Bengaluru City.
Pasha was also responsible for passing on an online handler link to Khaja Mohideen,who had joined Al Hind Trust along with his associates to promote the ISIS terrorist activities in India.
Further,Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib had harboured accused Thowfeek and Abdul Shameem,as per the NIA investigations.
Thowfeek and Abdul Shameem later murdered Shri Wilson SSI of Tamil Nadu Police, at the Kaliyakavillai check-post at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, with a pistol provided by Mehaboob Pasha.Further investigation in the case is continuing.