Hyderabad: Two top ISIS men nabbed; preacher, fundraiser picked up by NIA
Hyderabad: National Investigation Agency sleuths on Tuesday made two key arrests in connection with the ISIS terror plot in the city. The two arrested were referred to as “the preacher” and “the fundraiser” of the group, five of whom have been arrested earlier.
Of the two, Ataullah Rehman, 30, from Bandlaguda, allegedly radicalised the group, introducing and preaching the ISIS ideology to them. After motivating the group with propaganda materials, he made them take a Bayah, or oath of allegiance, to ISIS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.
An MA graduate in English, Ataullah had earlier worked as a Toefl trainer and came into contact with Ibrahim Yazdani, one of the Yazdani brothers who are among the five arrested recently.
After working as a Toefl trainer he later began taking Arabic class in Ibrahim’s house last year, according to NIA officials. The second person, Naimathullah Hussaini aka Yaser, 40, from Mughalpura, allegedly contributed money to the cause and was the chief (amir) of the group, said NIA officials.
According to the NIA probe team, the fresh arrests were made after the five suspects, who were nabbed earlier, confessed about the involvement of the two. “The arrests were made after their involvement in the terrorist conspiracy came to light,” said an official.
“Naimathullah Hussaini was arrested as he was a key member of the conspiracy group and for contributing money to the terrorist fund,” the officer said. Hussaini had received funds through hawala. Sources said the duo was also in touch with IS recruiter Shafi Armar.
Rehman played key role
NIA made two key arrests on Tuesday in connection with the ISIS plot in the city.
“Ataullah Rehman has been arrested for his key role in the conspiracy. He was involved in radicalising the group. He also administered the Bayah to ISIS khalifa Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. He had participated in several conspiracy meetings as was revealed by others in the case,” a NIA officer said.
“Naimathullah Hussaini was arrested as he was a key member of the conspiracy group and for contributing money to the terrorist fund,” the officer said. Hussaini had received funds through hawala.
Sources said the duo was also in touch with IS recruiter Shafi Armar. The two were produced in a special court in Nampally on Tuesday after and were sent to 14 days of judicial remand. NIA officials said that they would be taking them into custody soon for further investigations.
