National Investigation Agency officials interrogate key ISIS operative in Manila
A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) interrogate 33-year-old woman recruiter for the Islamic State (IS) terror group, Karen Aisha Hamidon, who had radicalised many South Indians through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook since 2014.
According to NIA official, “during investigation of ISIS-related cases registered in 2015 and 2016 by NIA, it was revealed that three accused persons namely Mohd Naser resident of Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, Mohd Sirajuddin resident of Gulbarga, Karnataka, and Adnan Hasan resident of Bhatkal, Karnataka were in online contact with one Karen Aisha Al Muslimah @ Karen Aisha Hamidon on messaging applications viz., Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. It further came on record that Karen was also in online contact with many other Indians. Subsequently, the aforesaid three accused persons were charge sheeted and they are facing trial in their respective cases.”
“The questioning of the accused and data retrieved from the digital devices seized from them at the time of their arrest had revealed the name of one Karen Aizha Hamidon Abuan @ Karen Aisha Al Muslimah @ Karen Aisha Hamidon, a resident of Manila, Philippines, as one of the most active ISIS operative based in Philippines. She was running different Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels for motivating, radicalizing and instigating her online associates from different countries including India to fight on behalf of ISIS in conflict zones. She was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals,” NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal told Mirror
He said in order to collect the evidence against the accused persons and ascertaining her role in the crime, requests under Letters Rogatory [LR], issued by the Special Courts of NIA, in Delhi and Jaipur were forwarded through proper channel to the Competent Judicial Authority, Philippines, seeking legal assistance in the investigation of NIA case
“Karen Aizha Hamidon y Abuan @ Karen Aisha al Muslimah @ Karen Aisha al Hamidon was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippines and she has been charged for incitement to rebellion,” he said
“In pursuance of the aforesaid LR and to question Karen Aizha Hamidon y Abuan @ Karen Aisha al Muslimah @ Karen Aisha al Hamidon, two NIA officers visited Manila, the Philippines to the questioning of Karen Aizha Hamidon y Abuan,” he added
Sources in NIA told mirror that the NIA ficials has resulted in confirmation of several facts revealed during the investigation and also provided significant leads about her associates in India, who were active online, to propagate the ideology of the ISIS and also about a few Indians residing abroad who have helped her financially. The leads obtained are being investigated.
“Execution of the LRs by the Philippines authority is expected soon which will provide substantial evidence to strengthen the cases against charge-sheeted accused in the aforesaid ISIS related cases,” NIA spokesperson added.
Source: Indian Times
