NIA court frames charges against IS recruit Majeed

A special NIA court on Thursday charged alleged ISIS recruit Areeb Majeed for participating in the Fidayeed attacks against Iraq, Syria and Kurdi.

Special judge VV Patil on Thursday said, "Between January and November 2014, Majeed and absconding accused Saheem Tanki and Aman Tandel conspired to commit terror acts in the name of Jihad in Iraq and Syria."

The court also charged him for taking part in fidayeen attacks in Kurds.

The special court rejected the NIA plea to adjourn the hearing to frame charges until a high court order.

The agency has challenged the NIA order, that dropped charges of Majeed being a member of a banned organisation Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) — also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The court said that the organisation was not banned when Majeed had joined it.

The special NIA court had, in February, ordered charges to be framed against Majeed. The court has now charged him for terror acts, conspiracy and waging a war against an Asiatic power that is in alliance with the government of India.

Majeed has, however, pleaded not guilty and sought for the trial. The court has adjourned the case for the next month.

Majeed, along with three other youths from Kalyan, had left to join the ISIS in May 2014 on the pretext of going for a pil grimage.

The agency claimed that the four had later joined the organi zation and started working for it.

Later in November 2014 Majeed was allegedly arrested when he returned to India.