NIA gets custody of Sadiq Basha, 4 others in ISIS case

Nearly 10 days after conducting raids across the state and unearthing a possible radicalisation centre on Anna Salai, Chennai, in connection with the case of suspected ISIS link registered against Needur Sadiq Basha, a man in Mayiladuthurai, the NIA has got custody of him and four of his associates till June 23 for a detailed questioning.

Apart from Sadiq Basha, who is allegedly heading anti-national organisations called Khilafah Party of India, Khilafa Front of India etc, the NIA has taken the custody of Mohamed Ashiq, Mohamed Ifran, Jagabar Ali and Rahamuthulla in connection with the case since Saturday.

During the raids at nine places across Chennai on June 9, the sleuths had found Sadiq Basha running a classroom like facility at a building in Anna Salai in the name of a construction firm. But, investigators believed that the place must have been used for radicalisation of youth and also spread the ideology of ISIS.

On June 9, the agency during the searches conducted at Chennai, Mayiladuthurai and Karaikal seized 16 digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones, literature leaflets and handwritten notes. NIA said that the accused had formed Khilafah Party of India and indulged in radicalisation.

The case was initially registered by local police against Sadiq Basha. It was taken over by the NIA. Basha and his associates had allegedly threatened police officials with a gun in Mayiladuthurai in February this year during a vehicle check, after which the police team overpowered them. Needur Basha has been in touch with global terror outfit ISIS and various central agencies were monitoring his activities closely, sources claimed.