A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kochi sentenced two Coimbatore residents, Muhammad Azharudeen, 27, and Shiek Hidayathulla alias Firoz Khan, 35, to eight years of rigorous imprisonment on Monday for their roles in recruiting and spreading the ideology of the banned terrorist organization, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The verdict marks a significant step in India’s ongoing efforts to curb the influence of global terror networks in the region.
The Special Court for Trial of NIA Cases convicted the duo under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, and Sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for membership and support of a terrorist organization. The court ordered both men to serve eight-year sentences for each offense, to run concurrently, ensuring they remain behind bars for their actions between 2017 and 2019.
The case, initiated in 2019, followed intelligence reports that Azharudeen and his associates were actively promoting ISIS ideology with the intent to recruit vulnerable youth for terrorist activities in South India, particularly targeting Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The investigation gained urgency after the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, which killed over 250 people and were linked to ISIS. The NIA uncovered evidence that the accused were inspired by radical speakers, including Sri Lanka’s ISIS leader Zahran Hashim, whose speeches were recovered from their digital devices and social media accounts.
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According to the NIA, Azharudeen and Hidayathulla consumed and shared extremist content from figures like Anwar-Al-Awlaki, Abu Bara, and Moosa Cerantonio, using it to further ISIS’s agenda. From 2017 to March 2019, they traveled across Kerala, meeting associates and expressing support for the terror group. The agency also linked the duo to the 2022 Coimbatore blast case, indicating their sustained involvement in extremist activities.
The NIA’s forensic analysis revealed extensive digital evidence, including propaganda materials tied to Zahran Hashim, underscoring the accused’s deep engagement with ISIS’s ideology. The conviction highlights the agency’s focus on dismantling terror networks in South India, where recruitment efforts have targeted impressionable youth. The court’s ruling sends a strong message about India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, as authorities continue to monitor and counter extremist activities in the region.
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