THANE: Villagers from Thane districts Borvali and Padgha villages have said some of the men arrested by the NIA for promoting IS activities do not indulge in any criminal or terror activities. A source told TOI that it was perhaps the first time the self-declared liberated IS territory, Al Sham had come to light. A local said one of the arrested men, Rafil Nachan, had recently landed a job as delivery boy to supply gas cylinders to commercial establishments.Haseeb Mulla, who is in his mid-50s, and his son Musab sell dry fruits and soft drinks, the villagers said, adding that the NIA had also arrested a local who helped people facing any police-related issues.Another arrestedaccused Saquib Nachan (63), who was earlier convicted and sentenced to 10 years 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 those arrested. Mukhliss father runs a tea stall. Saquib, the main accused and self-declared head of the IS module in this case, had reportedly assumed the right to administer the bayath (oath of allegiance to the khalifa of IS) to those joining the proscribed organisation. He was released from Thane jail in November 2017. His son Shamil was arrested in August by the NIA for his alleged role in the fabrication, training and testing of IEDs. We also published the following articles recently15 Isis terrorists arrested: Accused had declared Maharashtra village liberated zone, says NIANIA arrests 15 terrorists in Maharashtra and Karnataka raids. Leader of active Isis Maharashtra module apprehended. Accused involved in terrorism and fabrication of explosive devices.Those held by NIA not linked to terror: Villagers15 people, including a father-son duo, two brothers, a man with police contacts, and locals who helped villagers with police-related issues, have been arrested by the NIA in a terror-related case. The accused have allegedly promoted terror and activities of the proscribed organization, Islamic State (IS). This operation has revealed the first self-declared liberated IS territory in India. Villagers vouch for the innocence of the arrested individuals, stating that they were not involved in any criminal or terror-related activities.Padgha first case of liberated IS land in India: NIAMohd Saquib Nachan, the main accused and self-declared head of the IS module, surrendered in connection with the 2002 Mumbai Central and 2003 Vile Parle and Mulund train blast cases. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail for possessing an AK-56 rifle. Nachans son, Shamil, was also arrested for his alleged role in the fabrication and testing of explosive devices. The NIA took over the case, previously investigated by the Delhi police, after the arrest of three IS terrorists.

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