In Shivamogga ISIS case, NIA says accused were inspired to attack public, put places

The NIA has been probing scores of cases relating to Jihadis in Karnataka. In most cases, the accused were self-motivated and radicalised online.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet filed in connection with the Shivamogga Islamic State case has said there was a plan to commit acts of violence across Karnataka.

The NIA has named two Jihadis who were B.Tech students in the chargesheet.

Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Syed Yasin residents of Shivamogga were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA said the the two accused had been radicalised and inspired to attack both private and public facilities. They included warehouses, liquor stores, hardware stores, automobiles and properties owned by members of a particular community.

"In furtherance of a conspiracy hatched by the Islamic State, Maaz and Yasin had committed over 25 incidents of arson and sabotage," the NIA said.

Their actions reflect how committed they are the NIA said. Both had travelled to Agumbe and Varahi river backwaters woodland region of Shivamogga in a bid to scout for prospective hiding places, the NIA said. They had also purchased explosives were on the verge of making an IED, the agency also added.

Yasin executed a mock explosion of an IED along the Varahi river, the agency said. He also burned an Indian National Flag and made a video to prove his anti-India credentials, the chargesheet also said.

"The terror operatives were being paid in cryptocurrencies by their online handler by fund transfers from abroad," the NIA said.

"Investigation has revealed that the accused Maaz Muneer radicalised his close associate and college-mate Reshaan Thajuddin. And the two accused, Reshaan Thajuddin Sheikh and Huzair Farhan Baig received funds from their IS handler through crypto-wallets for furthering the terrorist activities of the Islamic State," the chargesheet also read.

Maaz had received a crypto equivalent of Rs 1.5 lakh from his online handler. In contrast Yasin received Ps 62,000 into the account of his friend. The NIA pointed out that Mohammad Shariq the Mangaluru bomber had intended to carry out an IED bombing at Kadri Temple in Mangaluru on November 19 last year and this was part of a larger scheme by the Islamic State.

The NIA has been investigating scores of cases in Karnataka. It has found in many cases, that the Muslim youth have been radicalised online and have self-motivated themselves to carry out attacks in the state. Shariq had prepared a bomb and planned to blast it at the Kadri Temple. However when he was on his way, the bomb exploded causing him serious injuries.