News Analysis India

Tag: Mohammed Iqbal

  • NIA chargesheets suspected member of Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist group 

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a charge-sheet against Mohammed Iqbal, a suspected member of a terror group named Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in many countries.

    In the charge-sheet, which was filed in a special NIA court in Chennai, the agency said Iqbal, 31, conspired with other members of the terror group, professed and preached about establishing an Islamic State caliphate. 

    The charge-sheet was filed under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code. The agency said that the case was originally registered in Madurai, Tamil Nadu against Iqbal alias Senthil Kumar for uploading “denigrating posts” on Facebook. 

    An investigation revealed that the posts on the Facebook page “Thoonga Vizhigal Rendu is in Kazimar Street” were uploaded by the accused to incite communal disharmony amongst different religious groups, in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

    The charge-sheet states that Iqbal created multiple social media accounts, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Telegram, WhatsApp etc to upload posts intending to disclaim, disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and to excite disaffection towards the Indian government.

    Further investigation in the case is still on, the NIA officials said. Meanwhile, the NIA chargesheeted two Hizbul Mujahideen overground workers (OGWs) on Saturday in a case related to a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks at in Uttar Pradesh.  

  • Bengal polls: Congress releases list of another 34 candidates; ISF names 20 contestants

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday released its next list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, announcing 34 names for the polls.

    The names were finalised after a meeting of the party’s Central Election authority chaired by Sonia Gandhi.

    This is the third list of Congress candidates for the eight-phase West Bengal assembly elections starting March 27.

    So far, the party has announced a total of 50 candidates.

    It had earlier released names of 13 and three candidates in two separate lists.

    Meanwhile, Abbas Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF), an alliance partner of the Left Front and the Congress in the state, on Sunday announced the names of candidates for 20 constituencies in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

    ISF president Simul Soren will contest from Haripal in Hooghly district, while Mohammed Iqbal and Nuruzzaman will be the party’s candidates from Entally and Metiabruz, respectively, it said in a statement.

    ISF is yet to announce the names of candidates from Canning Purba, Jangipara, Bhangar, Madhyamgram, Haroa and Mayureshwar — the seats it has identified to fight from as a part of the alliance.

    The party said that it announced the names of 20 candidates from among the 26 seats for which it has an alliance with the Left Front.

    While the Left Front has given 30 seats to the ISF from its kitty, the Congress, from which the Siddique-led party demanded 15 seats, has agreed to give it only eight from its share.