Father says J-K youth nabbed for alleged ISIS link 'innocent'

Srinagar, Jan 31: A day after three alleged ISIS sympathizers were remanded in 10 days' NIA custody, the father of an arrested Kashmiri youth claimed that his son was "innocent" and had gone abroad for a job to support his family.

"I am a poor man and have debt on me. My son went abroad to relieve us of the debt. He is innocent and has no connection with them (ISIS)," Abdul Sattar Sheikh, the father of Sheikh Azhar-ul-Islam, said.

Azhar, hailing from central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, was one of the three youths, who were arrested on Friday for purportedly being on a mission to carry out terror attacks in India and some other countries.

The trio were deported from the UAE and they were detained by NIA upon their arrival at the IGI airport. Adnan Hussain from Karnataka and Mohammad Farhan from Maharashtra are the other two youths.

Azhar's father said the allegations leveled against his son were untrue as he had nothing to do with ISIS.

"He is not involved in it. Check our family history. No one among us has ever taken the path of violence. People in our area will vouch for him. What do we have to do with them (ISIS)?" he questioned.

Sheikh said his son is being "framed" and appealed the government for his release. The youths were produced before a Delhi court, which remanded them in 10 days' NIA custody yesterday.

PTI