THANE: A father-son duo, two brothers in their early 20s, and a man with police ‘contacts’ are among the 15 people arrested by the National Investigation Agency from Borivali and Padgah villages in Thane district in Saturday’s early morning operation. They have been booked for allegedly promoting terrorand terror-related acts and activities of the proscribed organisation, Islamic State (IS).But several villagers TOI spoke with on Sunday, however, refused to believe that the arrestedaccused were involved in any criminal or terror-related activities.
This is perhaps the first case where a self-declared liberated IS territory in India has come to light, a source had told TOI on Saturday. Villagers told TOI that arrested siblings Razil Abdul Lateef and Rafil Nachan drove a taxi on the Padgha-Bhiwandi route. “The two brothers do not indulge in any criminal activity. They would go to work every day and return home,” said a local.
Haseeb Mulla, who is in his mid-50s, and his son Musab sell dry fruits and soft drinks, said villagers, adding that the NIA also arrested a local who “helped villagers facing any police-related issues”.
Another arrested accused Saquib Nachan,63, earlier convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail for possession of an AK-56 rifle, is a known name in the locality. Adil Khot, a civil engineer, and Mukhlis Nachan, a taxi driver, were also among the arrested persons.
This is perhaps the first case where a self-declared liberated IS territory in India has come to light, a source had told TOI on Saturday. Villagers told TOI that arrested siblings Razil Abdul Lateef and Rafil Nachan drove a taxi on the Padgha-Bhiwandi route. “The two brothers do not indulge in any criminal activity. They would go to work every day and return home,” said a local.
Haseeb Mulla, who is in his mid-50s, and his son Musab sell dry fruits and soft drinks, said villagers, adding that the NIA also arrested a local who “helped villagers facing any police-related issues”.
Another arrested accused Saquib Nachan,63, earlier convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail for possession of an AK-56 rifle, is a known name in the locality. Adil Khot, a civil engineer, and Mukhlis Nachan, a taxi driver, were also among the arrested persons.