‘Islamic State recruit’ being grilled in Mumbai

Aarif Majeed, who returned to India on Friday after leaving for Iraq in May purportedly to join Islamic State, claims that he got in touch with the members of the militant group through a number he found online, a source said. “He was then given a local number to get in touch with who would help him get to Iraq. We are going to verify these claims and verifying his information,” the source added.

Intelligence agencies are questioning him in Mumbai.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Earlier this month, after Aarif established contact with his father and expressed his desire to return, diplomatic channels were activated. Aarif was asked to approach the Indian Embassy in Turkey following which he was brought to India,” the source said. “His medical report revealed that he had sustained two bullet injuries but when we asked him how he got injured, he did not give a clear answer.”

Aarif reportedly told interrogators that he was indoctrinated through the Internet and read jihadi literature online.

The National Investigation Agency filed a case against Aarif under Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code (waging war against the state) and certain sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Section 125 of the IPC provides a maximum punishment of life imprisonment if found guilty of abetting or waging war with an Asian ally.

Aarif and the other three who left with him, Fahad Shaikh, Amaan Tandel and Saheem Tanki, hail from Kalyan district in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai.

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