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Fifty Jihadi youths from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in contact with Islamic State

Information revealed in the chargesheet by NIA

Mohammad Jobeeb Khan arrested

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – The Jihadi terrorist organisation Islamic State’s network has spread to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as well. At least 50 Muslim youths are in contact with this terrorist group. On 15thFebruary 2024, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammed Zoheb Khan (35) from the Beri Bagh area of Harsul in the city. On 12thJuly, a chargesheet was filed against him in the NIA Court in Mumbai, revealing shocking details about the Islamic State’s activities from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

1. Mohammed Shoeb Khan, who spread the Islamic State’s network globally from Libya, recruited Zoheb, an IT engineer. (Please note that no matter how educated Muslims are, their religious fanaticism and Jihadi tendencies do not change – Editor) Zoheb was working as a ‘sleeper cell’ (a group assisting terrorists) for Shoeb.

2. With Zoheb’s assistance, Shoeb formed a gang of Jihadi youths to target sensitive locations in the country.

3. A conspiracy was hatched to carry out major terrorist activities in India and then flee to Afghanistan or Turkey. According to the chargesheet, Shoeb in Libya and Zoheb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were the main masterminds of this plot.

Zoheb’s brother, also an IT engineer, works in Libya

Zoheb comes from an ordinary family. In February, the NIA arrested Zoheb and conducted raids at nine locations in the city. He is married with two daughters, and his father is a retired Government employee. Zoheb works in Bangalore and was recently working from home. His two brothers work in Gulf countries, one of whom is an IT engineer in Libya, where the Islamic State has a large network.

Responsibility to lure other Indian youths into the network

To recruit Jihadi youths in terrorist activities, organisations like the Islamic State administer a pledge of allegiance called ‘bayath.’ The self-proclaimed Khalifa (leader) of the Islamic State administers this oath. Zoheb had also taken this oath and was responsible for luring youths from Maharashtra and other States into the network. He was tasked with creating a website to attract youths to the Islamic State by posting incendiary content. Zoheb was working on this task while residing in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and was setting up a system for those eager to become terrorists.

Chatting on WhatsApp groups

Mohammed Zoheb Khan, recruited by Mohammed Shoeb Khan, created a WhatsApp group that included 50 youths from the city. Videos on making explosives and modern bombs for major attacks at various locations were posted in this group. They had also planned their operations thoroughly, according to the chargesheet.

Editorial Perspectives

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has become a haven for Jihadi terrorists, as evidenced by this revelation. With Jihadi terrorism spreading everywhere, the Government needs to take aggressive steps to counter it.

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