NIA starts removing online contents of Zakir Naik's foundation

Mumbai: The NIA carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day today, even as it blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.

The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name crop up linking terror activities following the Dhaka terror attack on July 1.

Search operations were carried out by the National Investigation Agency at the offices of IRF, premises of Naik as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naik's Peace TV.

The NIA also blocked the website of IRF, which was allegedly promoting "hate speeches" of Naik. "As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken," an NIA spokesperson told PTI.

Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.

If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.

The NIA is still trying to block Naik's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged "objectionable" material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials.

The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naik's sermons.

Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.

The NIA had on November 19 carried out searches on 10 premises of the IRF in Mumbai after registering a case against Naik and others under the anti-terror law.

The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises, including IRF's head office.

IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.

Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.

Justifying the ban imposed on IRF, the government said Naik has been extolling Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted 80 per cent of Indians would not have remained Hindus.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the IRF and its members, particularly, founder Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities.

"The central government has received information that the statements and speeches made by Zakir Naik, the president of IRF are objectionable and subversive in nature as he has been extolling the known terrorists like Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted, 80 per cent of Indian population would not have remained Hindus as they could have been converted 'if we wanted' by sword, justifying the suicide bombings, posting objectionable comments against Hindu Gods, claiming that Golden Temple may not be as sacred as Mecca and Medina and making other statements which are derogatory to other religions," the notification said.