Pune ISIS module was making IEDs, reveals NIA charge sheet

In its comprehensive charge sheet in connection with the Pune ISIS module case, the NIA has revealed that the accused arrested in the case are active members of ISIS and were planning a major terror attack in India to show support to the banned terror outfit. The charge sheet has revealed that the accused were making IEDs using various methods and literature, and were using code words to discuss the chemicals utilised in making explosives. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet has named seven accused in the case, identified as Imran Khan, Yunus Saki, Kadeer Pathan, Seemab Kazi, Zulfikar Ali, Shamil Nachan (son of former SIMI member Saquib Nachan ) and Aakif Nachan.

"In order to avoid the actual names of material used in bomb-making process, accused persons used code words like Shirka for sulphuric acid H2SO4, rose water for acetone, sharbat for hydrogen peroxide etc." the charge sheet reads. According to the charge sheet, the accused were also using other items such as thermometers and droppers, ice, speaker wire, small glass bulbs of 12 volts, 9-volt batteries, filter paper, a pocket matchbox, soda powder, washing machine timer, alarm clock plastic dial etc. during their said IED/bomb fabrication training at the rented house of a wanted accused named Abdullah.

(Clockwise from left) Zulfikar Ali, Kadeer Pathan, Seeman Kazi, Imran Khan, Yunus Saki, Aakif Nachan and Shahnawaz Aalam

The NIA has revealed that the accused Khan, Saki, Shahnawaz and wanted accused Rizwan have taken ‘Bay'ah' (pledge of allegiance to Khalifah) for ISIS in the Sinhagarh area of Pune. According to the charge sheet, in April 2022, accused Imran Khan and Yunus Saki had taught the procedure involving detailed steps to prepare explosives using sulphuric acid, acetone and hydrogen peroxide. They were also taught how to maintain temperature in the range of from 0 °C to 10°C and how to fabricate a detonator using bulbs and powder removed from matchstick heads. Further, fabrication of IED/bombs [using the said explosive and detonator] training was physically attended by the accused. The NIA also found handwritten notes about the fabrication of IEDs authored by Shamil Nachan and Pathan, and the same was confirmed by handwriting experts.

The charge sheet also reveals that the accused were taking instruction from a foreign-based handler identified as Mohammed. The accused Shahnawaz Aalam (yet to be charge sheeted) and wanted accused Rizwan collaborated with Khan and Saki in Kondhwa, Pune, and on the directions of Ali, carried out recces at several places in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala in search of prospective targets, planned hideouts, places for organising training camps and places for firing and IED explosion practice. "The accused have carried out extensive bike tours for the said purpose," the NIA charge sheet stated.

The NIA also revealed that the accused used to update and report about the progress of identified suitable places for hideouts and their experience during the jungle voyages to their foreign handler over encrypted communication applications including Telegram and WhatsApp, and other platforms like Signal, SureSpot and Conversation using VPN.

The NIA said Ali was working as general manager with leading IT firm and was earning more than R31 lakh per annum. It said he was funding the cell. Ali allegedly provided R2 lakh in cash through Kadeer Pathan to meet the stay expenses of Imran Khan and Yunus Saki as well as funds required for the procurement of material used in the IED/ Bomb fabrication at Pune.

The NIA also claims to have retrieved several documents which confirm that the accused were getting direct funding from ISIS to carry out terror activities. According to NIA, a total of R7.5 lakh was received via three transactions of R1.5 lakh, R2.5 lakh and R3.5 lakh from the Wilayah, which is an administrative division, usually translated as "state", "province" or occasionally as "governorate". The word comes from the Arabic root "w-l-y", "to govern": a wali - "governor" - governs a walaya (or wilaya), "that which is governed".

Under the caliphate, the term referred to any constituent near-sovereign state. This shows that, the ISIS organisation was funding the accused for furtherance of terror conspiracy. The word Wilayah is also specifically mentioned in the name of banned terrorist organisation ISIS as ISIS Wilayat Khorasan in the first schedule of UAPA.

7
No of people named in charge sheet

Apr 2022
Month accused were trained in bomb-making