French translator among two named in NIA charge-sheet for having links with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

New Delhi [India], October 10 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named a French translator from Uttar Pradesh along with another person of raising funds for furthering the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Mohd Arif, 42, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, and Hamraz Worshid Shaikh, 27, who belongs to Thane in Maharashtra, were named in the charge sheet filed before a special court in Bengaluru on Monday.
The two accused persons were also charged with attempting to radicalise and recruit gullible Muslim youth in India to join the banned terror outfit to carry out violent jihad and charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the India Penal Code (IPC).
The NIA had registered a case against Arif, who was working as a French translator in Bengaluru, and Hamraz earlier this year.
Further, NIA said, its investigations revealed that the accused communicated over encrypted social media applications and in furtherance of conspiracy with the Syria-based online handler of TTP. "Both the accused persons identified gullible Muslim youth in India and attempted to radicalize and recruit them by propagating TTP ideology."
"These youth were also motivated to do hijrah and to join the TTP for carrying out violent Jihad," said the NIA.
Arif also made preparations to illegally cross over to Afghanistan through the Iran-Afghanistan border to join the TTP, along with his family, said the NIA.
"Arif had applied for an Iranian VISA for his entire family and had also booked four flight tickets to Iran and four dummy return flight tickets to India for his family, including his wife and two minor children. Arif had also booked rooms in Boshra Hotel of Mashhad city of Iran, as per instructions of the online handler."
The NIA investigations also revealed that the accused Hamraz had sent money to Pakistan to further the activities of TTP.
"The accused persons intended to establish Islamic rule in India by overcoming the democratically elected government through violent Jihad," added the NIA. (ANI)