Shocking details have emerged of Al-Sham, an ISIS territory being created close to Mumbai. A raid by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) revealed the sinister plot and how terrorist Saquib Nachan, belonging to a politically influential family, had put the entire plan into place by systematically settling people pledging loyalty to ISIS.

Al-Sham: an ISIS territory near Mumbai

Recently, in the village of Padgha Borivali near Bhiwandi, a person decided to change the village’s name to Al-Sham, which translates to ‘Greater Syria’ in Arabic. Moreover, the individual declared the area a liberated zone, pledging allegiance to ISIS and adopting Sharia law.

Five days ago, the NIA, along with 400 local police officers, conducted a series of raids on every home in the Al-Sham village. During the operation, they arrested locals who were found in possession of maps highlighting prominent locations in Mumbai, videos featuring Zakir Naik, firearms, swords, 51 Hamas flags, 68 lakhs in cash, 38 mobile phones, and three hard disks. The investigation revealed a plan to carry out more than 40 drone attacks in Mumbai.

NIA unveils Saquib Nachan’s sinister plot

Terrorist Saquib Nachan is the brain behind Al-Sham village. Nachan, initially sentenced to life imprisonment in 1991, had his conviction commuted to 10 years by the Supreme Court, leading to his release in 2001—a decision that raised eyebrows. However, there is no evidence to suggest that he reformed his behaviour during or after his incarceration.

Arrested once again in connection with the 2002-2003 Mumbai blasts, Nachan received a 10-year sentence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and was released in 2017. His son Shamil Nachan was also arrested in the same case. However, instead of reforming, he took on a more alarming role, assuming the position of the ISIS Maharashtra Module chief. Nachan began recruiting young individuals and providing them with terrorist training.

He began settling them in Al-Sham to create a separate state. Nachan not only played a role in radicalizing youth but also organized diverse training programs for them, according to intelligence sources. Nachan was a crucial figure responsible for managing foreign operations, funding, and psychological operations against Bharat. He led what is considered the most dangerous ISIS module, aiming to establish a separate state. His plans involved orchestrating bombings across Bharat, surpassing the severity of the 26/11 attacks. Additionally, Nachan administered the Bayʿah (oath of allegiance) to recruits, enhancing their commitment to the jihadist cause.

Under the guidance of their foreign handlers, the accused were actively participating in terrorist activities, manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for planned attacks. Operating independently from Borivali-Padgha, the initial investigations unveiled that the arrested individuals had proclaimed the village of Padgha in rural Thane (Bhiwandi) as a “liberated zone” and referred to it as “Al-Sham.”

They encouraged susceptible Muslim youths to relocate to Al-Sham (Padgha) to strengthen their presence. NIA’s investigation revealed that the organization has been expanding its terror network in India by establishing localized ISIS modules and cells in various states across the country.

In recent months, NIA has carried out extensive raids, dismantling multiple ISIS modules and apprehending numerous terror operatives linked to the ISIS terror conspiracy case. Earlier this year, the agency initiated a case against the ISIS Maharashtra module and has since taken decisive and forceful actions to dismantle various modules and networks associated with the terrorist organization.

Saquib Nachan aimed to unite SIMI, Indian Mujahideen, and ISIS, urging them to overlook past differences. The recent Pune case involves former members of Indian Mujahideen and SIMI aligning with ISIS, revealing geographical connections. NIA confirmed that links between Hazaribagh, UP, and Maharashtra cases trace back to Nachan.

Foreign handlers in Iraq or Syria played a pivotal role, providing funding at different times, deviating from the typical ISIS approach. The investigation indicates a merging of Indian Mujahideen, SIMI, and ISIS elements, showcasing a collaborative effort among radical groups under a common umbrella. The official also said there were clear indications of all terror organizations regrouping under one umbrella. Intelligence sources say this is an excellent catch in terms of arrest because they were at a very initial stage and arrested at the right time.

However, an ‘ISIS territory’ a stone’s throw away from the country’s financial capital should make a case for national security agencies to be on high alert.

(Featured Image Source: Bol Bhidu)