New Delhi: Three terror suspects, who were recently deported from UAE for their alleged ISIS links and for conspiring to carry out terror strikes in India and other countries, were today remanded to 10 days' NIA custody by a Delhi court.
Sheikh Azhar Al Islam, Mohammad Farhan Shaikh and Adnan Hussain were produced in muffled faces before District Judge Amar Nath during in-camera proceedings after expiry of their NIA custody.
According to sources, the NIA sought extension of police remand of the three accused for 12 days, saying they were required to be interrogated to unearth the larger conspiracy of ISIS in India and abroad.
"During questioning, accused had disclosed that they were active supporters of Islamic State and remained in close contact with several active members of IS using internet, telephone and other means of communication in furtherance of its activities," the NIA said in its remand application.
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The agency further contended that sustained custodial interrogation of these three accused was required "to unravel the larger criminal conspiracy of IS activities in India and abroad including recruitment of resident and non-resident Indians by the IS."
"Custodial interrogation of the accused during this period has resulted in the revelation of many facts which are pertinent to establish the inter-connection amongst these accused and their association with IS.
"The sustained questioning of the accused also led to the discovery of many facts which need to be further verified and investigated to establish their involvement in furtherance of their activities of the IS by the accused," the agency said.
Advocate M S Khan, who appeared for Farhan and Adnan, opposed the NIA's plea saying his clients have already been interrogated at length and there was no need to extend their custody.
Adnan, who hails from Karnataka, Farhan who is from Maharashtra and Sheikh Azhar from Jammu and Kashmir were arrested on January 29 by the NIA after being deported from the UAE.
The trio were detained by the NIA on arrival from the UAE at the IGI airport here.
The three suspects, along with other unknown associates, were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizens, located in India and abroad, for planning and executing terror attacks, according to the NIA.
On September 15 last year, the UAE had deported four Indians suspected to have links with ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The UAE had also sent back last year a 37-year-old woman Afsha Jabeen for allegedly recruiting youths for ISIS.
In January 2015, Salman Mohiuddin of Hyderabad was arrested when he was preparing to board a flight to Dubai on way to Syria via Turkey.
According to Indian intelligence agencies, around six Indians who had joined the ISIS were reportedly killed in different incidents in Iraq and Syria.
