Mohammad Siraj was a brilliant student, says APCR activist

Bengaluru: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) official Mohammad Sirajuddin from Kalburgi, who was arrested by the Rajasthan Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) last week under Sections 13, 18 and 38(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, for his alleged role in spreading propaganda material of banned global radical organisation Daesh had earlier worked in Bengaluru before being transferred to Jaipur last year by the IOC.

“Siraj is a career-oriented man. He was a brilliant student. He did his M.Tech from Karnataka and was hired by the IOC during campus recruitment. He has a clean record and is known to be a mild mannered man. He is married and has an infant daughter,” said lawyer and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) activist Akmal Razvi.

Siraj’s arrest has shocked his family, who refuse to believe that he could be involved in terror activities. His father, who rushed to Rajasthan to visit his son after the news of his arrest reached them, could not meet Siraj after he was reportedly advised to wait till December 21, when his police custody would end.

“The family is shattered. He has been arrested under the UAP Act, under which he cannot be granted bail. It is a very stringent Act. His remand application states that he was eulogising the Daesh on social media sites,” Mr Razvi said.

According to Rajasthan ATS, Siraj had allegedly built a network on social media sites to propagate the ideology of Daesh. “The investigation is under way. We need to find out his network, his following in the country and abroad,” Mr Meena said.

Rajasthan ATS yet to contact state cops

Rajasthan Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has so far not contacted Karnataka police for details on the Indian Oil Corporation official Mohammed Sirajuddin of Kalaburagi, who was arrested last week for reportedly spreading Daesh propaganda on social media sites, said top official sources.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, ATS, Rajasthan B.L. Meena told this newspaper that they are in touch with other state police, where Siraj may have built some contacts and will contact Karnataka police, when necessary. “We came to know about Siraj’s arrest through the media. There has been no official communication by the Rajasthan police,” said a senior police officer from Karnataka.

No specific alert on terror attack: Megharikh

City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh said that there is no specific alert by central intelligence agencies on any possible terror attacks by Daesh (ISIS) in the city. “During the New Year and other festivals, there is a general alert. There is nothing to worry for citizens as there is no input by central agencies about possible IS attack in the city. Besides, we are prepared to tackle any such attack and our forces are ready,” he said.

The city police questioned a set of terror suspects who were recently arrested by Belagavi and Kalaburagi police for their alleged links with Daesh. “Our police team has questioned the suspects on their links with people in Bengaluru. During the investigation, it was found that they were not in contact with people in the city. We have also contacted Rajasthan police, who have arrested an IOC marketing manager Mohammed Sirajuddin of Karnataka. We are also exchanging information with Delhi and Mumbai police. There is no need to worry about a possible terror attack as of now,” he said.

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