NIA: HuT module was planning to attack Hindu religious sites

BHOPAL: The Hizb ut Tahrir (HuT) module busted in Bhopal and Hyderabad last month was planning to attack various religious leaders and places, specifically those linked to Hinduism, as well as crowded places to create terror among “non-believers” or those opposed to Islamic rule in India.
As per contents of the FIR re-registered by NIA in the Bhopal-Hyderabad HuT module case last week — after initial probe by the Madhya Pradesh ATS, which led to the arrest of 16 accused across Bhopal, Chhindwara and Hyderabad — members of HuT were trying to clandestinely build its cadre in MP by recruiting vulnerable Muslim youth into the organisation. The aim, as per NIA, is to overthrow the constitutionally-formed government of India and establish the rule of Sharia. Towards this end, the FIR says, HuT has been collecting a cache of arms, ammunition and explosives and training radicalised Muslim youths in their use to target Hindutva leaders, Hindu places of worship and crowded places.
HuT is banned in 16 countries. Sources indicated the Centre may be examining the case for banning the outfit here as well under UAPA.
Among the arrested accused, Bhopal resident Yasir Khan was found to be heading the HuT in MP and was associated with it for five years. “The current government is against Islam...” he was quoted in the MP police FIR as saying. “We must adopt ways of al-Qaida, IS and Taliban to create terror among such non-believers,” he told his interrogators.
Yasir and other accused were arrested in May, while holding a meeting at a coaching centre run by one of the arrested accused in Bhopal.