Indian ISIS operative Abu Musa's link to terror outfit JMB being probed by NIA: Report

Indian recruit of Islamic State (ISIS) Mohammad Masiuddin alias Abu Musa was arrested from Burdwan railway station by Bengal Police on July 6.

File photo - Representational image

Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached US, Germany, New Zealand and Bangladesh seeking information about online conversations of Indian recruit of Islamic State (ISIS) Mohammad Masiuddin alias Abu Musa's link with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders involved in the Dhaka attack, as per a media report.

According to The Times of India, sources in the anti-terror probe agency have said that Musa had interacted with his handlers, including Shafi Armar alias Yousuf al-Hindi, and Mohammad Suleiman among others, using chat apps and channels including Telegram, Surespot, Kik and Thremma.

The NIA has approached the four countries Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

The investigating agency has sought details of Musa's chats and messages.

The Daily quoted officials as saying that JMB leaders had discussed their strategy on these platforms and gave directions to Musa about he needed to do in India. 

Suleiman and another yet to be identified leader of the outfit had come and reportedly met Musa in Malda in April.

Further, Musa had been asked by ISIS handlers to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks on foreigners in India.

Moreover, he is an important link in establishing plans of Bangladesh unit of ISIS in India.

Supposedly, there two factions in JMB now, one supports ISIS and another is neutral. 

Last month, a two-member team of investigators from Bangladesh’s anti-terror agency Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had come to Kolkata to gather leads in its probe into the terror attack at Dhaka’s Holey Artisan Bakery in July. 

Media reports had quoted sources as saying that the officials had interrogated arrested Musa, who had apparently told interrogators that he was in touch with Mohammed Suleiman of JMB.

He is also said to have told them about ISIS’ plan for a formal announcement of its arrival in India with video of a brutal murder.

As per The Indian Express, Musa said that he had been instructed to behead a Hindu man, rape the man’s companion, make videos of both attacks and send them to his handler across the border in Bangladesh.

Suleiman is said to have asked Musa to chose non-Muslim targets.

The video was to be sent to ISIS in Syria and then would released on the Internet by the communications wing of the terrorist organisation.

The ISIS would make a formal announcement of the establishment of the 'caliphate' in India.

Birbhum resident Musa, 25, was arrested from Burdwan railway station by Bengal Police on July 6.

He was held on inputs provided from Intelligence Bureau and NIA.