NIA arrests ISIS operative during search operation in Varanasi

LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old man in Varanasi for alleged involvement in radicalization of youths and their recruitment in terror outfit ISIS.
NIA carried out a search operation with the help of local police and ATS, and arrested the accused, Basit Kalam Siddiqui.
Incriminating articles such as handwritten notes on fabrication of IEDs and explosive substances, mobile phones, laptops and pen drives were seized during the raid.
NIA officials said Basit’s name surfaced during interrogation with six similar modules arrested on June 29, 2021.
It emerged during investigation that Basit was actively involved in radicalization of youths and their recruitment in ISIS.
“After the busting of ‘Voice of Hind’ module and arrest of six persons, including the so-called Amir of ISJK, Umar Nisar aka Qasim Khurasani, an online propaganda was being pushed through a new online magazine ‘Voice of Khorasan’,” an NIA official said.
Basit was in touch with ISIS handlers and was indulging in content creation, publication and dissemination of ISIS propaganda through the magazine.
“On the directives of his ISIS handlers in Afghanistan, Basit was trying to fabricate an explosive ‘Black Powder’ and was gaining knowledge on the use of other lethal chemical substances to be used for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” the official said.
“He was also imparting training on making of explosives, through several Telegram groups that he operated, for terrorist attacks on vital installations and civilian population. Basit was also planning to go to Khorasan and join ISIS,” he added.
Another official privy to investigation said that Basit had studied from a reputed school and wanted to join government service but failed.