The National Investigation Agency has got more fodder against controversial televangelist Zakir Naik after it conducted searches in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday as part of its investigation in the IS Omar Al Hindi module case . This case adds to the pile of mounting evidence against Naik already declared a proclaimed offender by the anti-terror agency.
After the NIA gathered material evidence from its searches in the form of laptops, pen drives, DVDs and manuscripts on Thursday, it simultaneously summoned the suspected individual for questioning on Friday.
While the questioning is still on, official sources said during examination, two of the suspects have disclosed that they were radicalised through speeches of Salafi preachers like Dr Zakir Naik and Anwar Al-Awlaki.
According to NIA officials , the suspects admitted that they were following various IS/Daesh groups or channels in social media and have also disseminated pro-IS/ Daesh propaganda while they were in contact with the absconding accused persons like Abdul Rashid Abdulla.
Abdul has an Interpol Red corner Notice against him after he was chargesheeted by the NIA in the IS Kasargod module case.
"Abdul Rashid Abdulla alias Abu Isa Al-Hindi has been radicalising them on the ideology of IS/ Daesh and urging them to perform hijra to join and support the terrorist organization in the Islamic Caliphate," NIA officials said on Friday.
On Thursday, the NIA had conducted searches at two locations in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and one location in Alappuzha, Kerala. It may be recalled that a charge sheet had been filed under various sections of IPC and Unlawful activities prevention act against six arrested persons besides absconding accused Shajeer Mangalassery alias Abu Ayisha, who hatched the criminal conspiracy by forming a terror module to further the objectives of IS in India.
During the searches conducted at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Alappuzha in Kerala on Thursday, the NIA had recovered 10 mobile phones, 4 laptops, 2 hard disks, 1 pen drive, 77 DVDs/ CDs, 3 memory cards, 16 SIM cards besides documents including books, diaries and manuscripts.
The seized material objects have been submitted before the NIA special court, which has sent the digital devices for forensic examination.
