Deported Mumbra man was arrested by UAE officials six months ago

Mohammed Farhan Shaikh, one of the three Indians who was deported from the UAE for suspected ISIS links, was arrested six months ago by its investigating agencies for his alleged involvement with the extremist group. Shaikh's maternal grandmother, who resides in Mumbra's Kausa area, made the revelation yesterday while speaking to mid-day.

Mohammed Farhan Shaikh was allegedly working as a recruiter for ISIS

Shaikh was deported to India along with Adnan Hussain (Karnataka) and Sheikh Azhar (Jammu and Kashmir) on Thursday. The trio is currently in NIA custody in New Delhi.

Commenting on Shaikh's deportation, an ATS source said, "Farhan was working as a recruiter for the ISIS in Abu Dhabi for the last three years and used social media to radicalise young minds. He used the laptop given to him by his firm, where he worked as a hardware engineer."

Troubled childhood
Speaking to mid-day, Farhan's grandmother Mahrunisa Shaikh said, "Farhan is my sister's grandson. His mother committed suicide when he was two, following which his father disowned him. Since then I looked after him and ensured that he received education so that he could stand on his feet when the time comes."

Born in 1991, Farhan completed his SSC from Queen Mary's High School & Junior College, Mumbra and joined K J Somaiya college to pursue a bachelor's degree in science. However, he dropped out during the second-year.

"The police claimed he was misusing social networking sites. I was in Dubai when he was arrested. Whenever Farhan called from prison, he claimed innocence and said he would be released soon. I visit Dubai often to meet my son and relatives who work there. I last visited them just two months ago," Mahrunisa said.

She said she was shocked when investigating officers visited her Mumbra residence on Saturday.

"I had heard about Mudabbir Shaikh, a Mumbra resident who recruited for ISIS. But their claim that my Farhan is also linked to the group threw me into a tizzy. I still can't believe what they said about him. Farhan is innocent," said a teary-eyed Mahrunisa.

Cop speak
Confirming Farhan's arrest, an investigating officer said, "The UAE police discovered that though Farhan wasn't harmful for their country, he was an ISIS recruiter for India. So he was let off following their investigation.
The officials then informed their counterparts in India, as NIA, IB and RAW had been monitoring his activities for his association with the extremist group as a recruiter. Further probe revealed that Farhan had direct access to Yusuf Al-Hindi, believed to be supreme commander of ISIS India chapter, who operates from Waziristan."