NIA files chargesheet in Delhi court against suspected IS member

New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet in a Delhi court, accusing suspected Islamic State supporter Mohammed Naser of motivating people to join the terror outfit and waging war in certain Middle East countries and India.

According to court sources, the NIA filed the chargesheet before District Judge Amarnath during the in-camera proceedings. The court then listed the matter for June 9.

Naser, 23, a resident of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, was arrested on December 11, 2015, after his deportation from Sudan.

"Naser used the web-based social media platform and joined a number of chat groups and communicated with his associates both within and outside india," the chargesheet said.

"...to recruit Muslim youth in India to join the IS and to transfer them to Iraq and Syria to commit terror attacks and wage war in the middle eastern countries as well as in India," it added.

The NIA said Naser confirmed to his father that he had joined the IS and it was not possible for him to return to the mainstream.

"Investigation has brought on record the incriminating evidence, including documentary and digital, which include text messages, chats, graphic arts and 'jihadi' literature on IS. The same were recovered from the electronic device as well as social media platforms used by the Naser," said the chargesheet. It was filed in connection with the NIA case dated December 9, 2015, against the IS.

On January 13, the NIA forwarded the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to the US and the United Arab Emirates and one letter rogatory to Sudan for collection of documents as well as digital evidence against Naser, the chargesheet said.

The chargesheet has been filed under Section 125 (waging war against any Asiatic power) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 18-B (punishment for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act), 38 (offence relating to the membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (offence relating to the support given to a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended).

The chargesheet said the investigation against the other accused persons will continue under Section 173(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code.