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Suspected ISIS recruiter, allegedly linked to Zakir Naik, arrested

by IBNS 22 Jul 2016, 08:18 am

Mumbai, July 22 (IBNS) : Arshid Qureshi, a suspected ISIS recruiter who police believe is linked to controversial preacher Zakir Naik's foundation, has been arrested, media reports said.

Police said the arrest was made in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday. Qureshi has been remanded in four days' police custody.

According to intelligence reports, Arshid allegedly indoctrinated and motivated  youngsters in Kerala to join the ISIS. 

Quoting sources, the media reports said Qureshi is believed to have been working with Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation as a Public Relations Officer for the last 16 years.

A case was registered against him in Kerala last month after parents of one of the 15 youngsters, who went missing in a suspected move to join the ISIS, complained that Qureshi had a crucial role behind it.

Mumbai-based Zakir Naik has been in news ever since Bangladesh accused him of inspiring through speeches the young men who killed 20 hostages at a Dhaka cafe earlier this month. 

Naik is currently in Saudi Arabia and has said he will not return India this year.