NIA arrests ISIS plot fundraiser, preacher

National Investigation Agency officials Tuesday made two key arrests in connection to the ISIS terror plot in Hyderabad. The two arrested were referred to as “the preacher” and “the fundraiser” of the group, five of whom have been arrested earlier.

Of the two, Ataullah Rehman, 30, from Bandlaguda, allegedly radicalised the group, introducing and preaching ISIS ideology to them. After motivating the group with propaganda material, he made them take a Bayah, or oath of allegiance, to ISIS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

An MA in English, Ataullah came into contact with Ibrahim Yazdani, one of the Yazdani brothers who are among the five arrested recently. After working as a TOEFL trainer, he later began taking Arabic class in Ibrahim’s house last year, according to NIA officials. The second person, Naimathullah Hussaini, a. k. a. Yaser, 40, from Mughalpura, allegedly contributed money to the cause and was the chief ( emir) of the group, said NIA officials.

Investigators are probing the Kolkata link of the ISIS since a suspect arrested in West Bengal had confessed about his Hyderabad handler a week ago. NIA officials will also be verifying if the local ISIS group had connections with those who had disappeared from Kerala recently.

According to the NIA probe team, the fresh arrests were made after the five suspects, who were arrested earlier, confessed about the involvement of the two.

“The arrests were made after their involvement in the terrorist conspiracy came to light,” said an official.

“Ataullah Rehman has been arrested for his key role in the conspiracy. He was involved in radicalising the group members.... He had participated in several conspiracy meetings as was revealed by the other co- accused in the case,” an NIA investigation officer said.

“Naimathullah Hussaini was arrested for being a key member of the conspiracy group and for contributing money to the terrorist fund,” the officer said, adding that Hussaini had received funds through hawala. Sources said that the duo was also in touch with alleged ISIS recruiter Shafi Armar.

The two were produced before a special court in Nampally on Tuesday.