As part of a nationwide anti-terror sweep, 14 alleged ISIS sympathisers were arrested on January 23. (Reuters file photo)
Eleven suspected ISIS operatives, who were arrested from across the country for allegedly recruiting and financing people to join the terror group, were remanded in seven days NIA custody by a Delhi court today.
The accused were produced before District Judge Amar Nath amidst tight security and according to lawyers who attended the in-camera proceedings, the National Investigation Agency had sought extension of their custodial interrogation by 10 more days.
The NIA said in its remand application that the accused have disclosed during their interrogation "their involvement in this case about recruiting and financing persons willing to join the Caliphate of ISIS at Syria".
"They were also found to be in communication with some active members through chatting applications 'Signal', 'Trillion' and 'Skype' in order to motivate them to join ISIS in furtherance of activities of its ideologies, thereby luring youths to join this proscribed terrorist organisation.
"The identity and role of such associates is being ascertained," the NIA said.
Advocate MS Khan, who appeared for nine out of these 11 accused, opposed the NIA's plea contending that their remand application does not disclose as to whom they were in touch with in Syria.
Mr Khan also argued that his clients have been in the NIA's custody for the past 10 days and there was no need to extend police custody as the NIA has already quizzed them in connection with the case.
The 11 accused who were remanded in seven days NIA custody are Mohd Aleem, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid and Mohd Hussain Khan.
Besides these 11 accused, four other co-accused -- Mohd Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas and Nasser Packeer -- were also produced before the court which remanded them in judicial custody.
Except Nasser, who was in judicial custody, all the other 14 accused were produced before the court after expiry of their NIA custody.