NIA arrests main suspect in the Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tharir case at Bengaluru airport
New Delhi [India], August 31: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a key suspect in the Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tharir case on Friday. The arrest was made at Bengaluru International Airport as the individual was attempting to flee the country, according to the agency's statement.
The arrested person, Aziz Ahamed, also known as Aziz Ahmed or Jaleel Aziz Ahmed, is implicated in a case involving efforts to radicalize youth and establish an Islamic caliphate in India.
The NIA registered case RC 01/2024/NIA/CHE against six individuals influenced by Hizb-ut-Tharir, an international pan-Islamist and fundamentalist group that aims to establish an Islamic caliphate and enforce its founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani's constitution.
The NIA's investigation revealed that the accused conducted secret Bayaans, during which many participants, especially vulnerable youth, were radicalized with Hizb-ut-Tharir's ideologies. The group seeks military support from entities hostile to India to achieve its objectives. Aziz Ahamed was identified as a key figure in these radicalizing efforts.
The investigation by the NIA is ongoing.