NIA arrests ISIS-linked ambulance driver during Chennai raids

CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended a key operative of the banned terror outfit ISIS in Chennai, who was allegedly radicalising youth, including college students, to join the terrorist organisation. This is the latest case involving the proscribed outfit in Tamil Nadu from where its modules are reportedly trying to enlist fresh recruits.

Sources identified the arrested man as Al Fasith, who allegedly used social messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, to contact the youth who were identified for radicalisation.

Hailing from Tirumullaivasal village in Mayiladuthurai district, Fasith was working as a driver of a private ambulance in Chennai. He was residing in Chennai for the last eight months and was keeping in touch with the handlers of ISIS core team, sources alleged.

After tracking his activities, sleuths from the central agency conducted simultaneous surprise checks across 20 locations in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and Sirkazhi. The officials confiscated numerous digital materials during the searches and are now poring through them.

The agency conducted searches at 15 locations in Tirumullaivasal and a few other places in Mayiladuthurai, as well as five other places in Chennai. A few mobile phones and flash drives were confiscated by the NIA teams from the houses that were searched, official sources said.

The officials took Fasith to their office in Purasaiwalkam for a detailed interrogation on Tuesday morning, and later arrested him based on evidence collected during raids.

The 15 houses searched on Tuesday were said to be those of Fasith’s relatives, who were also on the WhatsApp group of which he was the admin. He allegedly used the group to brainwash youngsters from the locality and recruit them.

Continuing its investigation, the agency has directed the people who were suspected to be in contact with Fasith to appear before the Chennai NIA office by January 31. The probe team believes that Fasith was in touch with Sadiq, a prominent ISIS leader who was under the surveillance of various intelligence agencies.

Sources said NIA is planning to dig further to know about Fasith’s recruitment details and financial support he received to carry out fresh recruitments.