New Delhi: In a joint operation by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a man from Bhatkal in north Karnataka was detained at the Pune airport while trying to flee the country to join terror group Islamic State in Syria.
According to police, the man has been identified as 34-year-old Ismail Musab Abdul Rawoof.
Abdul was taken into custody when he was about to leave India for Dubai by (IX) Air India 211 flight for his onward journey to Syria, police said, adding that the Union Home Ministry had issued a Look Out Circular against him sometime back.
Security agencies were keeping a strict vigil after his name cropped up in internet chats with IS members. The chats are being monitored by sleuths to look for possible followers of the terror group.
Police said that he was being questioned by various security agencies after which he would be handed over to NIA.
In the past, Indians living in the UAE have been identified as having alleged ISIS links. In September last year, the UAE deported four Indians suspected to have links with the ISIS. A 37-year-old woman, Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph, was arrested for recruiting youths in the name of ISIS.
Over 20 people have been arrested by the NIA this year as part of its probe on indoctrination of youths by the terror outfit.
