Indian techie from Kalyan, Maharashtra dies in Iraq fighting for ISIS

Mumbai: Arif Ejaz Majeed, an engineering student from Kalyan, may have become the first Indian jihadi to have died fighting for the insurgents of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Though the family and security agencies remained tightlipped about Arif’s death, the family conducted a namaz-e-zanaza, a prayer made after the death of a person, on Wednesday afternoon at their Kalyan house.

Arif was one of the four young boys from Kalyan, who have allegedly joined the IS-sponsored jihad in Iraq and Syria. According to sources, his family was informed about his death by the family members of another boy, Saheem Tanki, who has also allegedly joined the IS.

Saheem had telephoned his brother Farzaan on Tuesday evening at around 6.30 pm and informed him about Arif’s death. Saheem also instructed his brother to inform Arif’s family about it, but did not disclose any further details.

“We tried asking him his whereabouts. But Saheem only said that he is fine wherever he is and that he would soon return home. But he was crying all the time,” said Saheem’s uncle Kashif Tanki. The Tanki family then informed Arif’s father Dr Ejaz Majeed about his son’s death. They have also passed on the information to the Bazarpeth police station in Kalyan.

“We have come to know about the call made by Saheem. However, we cannot make any comments until we verify it, police said.

Though the family and security agencies rema-ined tightlipped about Arif’s death, the family conducted a namaz-e-zanaza, a prayer made after the death of a person, on Wednesday afternoon at their Kalyan house.