Suspected ISIS operative arrested in Chennai by the NIA

The accused Shakul Hameed, alongside nine others had allegedly hatched a criminal conspiracy to further activities of the terror group.

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The National Investigative Agency (NIA) has arrested a suspected ISIS operative in Chennai on Monday afternoon. The accused Shakul Hameed, alongside nine others had allegedly hatched a criminal conspiracy to further activities of the terror group.

According to a statement put out by the investigative agency, the case was registered suo motu against the nine accused at the NIA police station in Delhi on January 26. The conspiracy was underway from 2013 onwards and the accused had formed a terrorist gang which had raised and received funds, organized meetings, recruited and facilitated the travel of some persons to Syria to join the ISIS/ Daesh.

Investigation has revealed, as per the statement, that main accused Haja Fakkurudeen, was a Singaporean citizen of Indian origin and a native of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. He had joined the ISIS in Syria in January, 2014, along with his family.

"Fakkurudeen had visited India twice between November, 2013 and January, 2014, when he had conspiracy meetings along with co-accused Khaja Moideen, Shakul Hameed and others at various places in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with the intention of recruiting more people into the ISIS," said the statement.

In pursuance of the conspiracy, the now arrested Shakul Hameed had allegedly attempted to migrate to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria in August, 2015, through Turkey. It was here that he was intercepted by Turkish authorities and reportedly deported to India.

He will be produced before the NIA special court in Chennai, the statement said.

"On September 15, accused Khaja Moideen alias Abdullah Muthalif, the son of Chinna Thambi Ambalam of Salapathputhu Nagar in Cuddalore district was remanded in this case by a NIA special court at Poonamalle in Chennai.

The custody of Moideen has been sought by the Chief Investigation Officer concerned in Delhi, said the statement.