Bank accounts of ISIS 'recruit' Tabrez and kin under ATS scanner

MUMBAI: Anti-Terrorism Squad is finding out bank account details of Mumbra youth Tabrez Tambe, a suspected member of ISIS held in Libya, and his close relatives here to find out the nature of transactions, if any.

Meanwhile, the agency has confirmed that Tabrez's friend Ali who had indoctrinated him, is a Saudi national.

Tabrez, a resident of Mumbra in neighbouring Thane district, was caught last week in Libya, where he had joined ISIS with Ali.

According to ATS officials, the agency has written to Central government seeking more information about Tabrez and his activities in the oil-rich country and the exact role he might have played for the terror group.

The agency is trying to ascertain the nature of bank transactions, if any, between Tabrez and his kin and if money was deposited in their accounts by any suspected IS handler, they said.

ATS officials are now trying to find out if Ali, who had earlier visited India with Tabrez, met or brainwashed more local youths. The ATS teams are making enquiries with Tabrez's family members, relatives and friends in this regard.

"We will investigate Ali's motive to visit India," an ATS official said.

ATS has also seized various gadgets belonging to Tabrez's family members, through which he used to communicate with his mother, brother and wife.

The gadgets, including mobile phone handsets and a laptop, are sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to find out details about the communication.

According to an official, there is no contact between Tabrez and his family members after a case was lodged with ATS. The agency has already registered offences against him under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Tabrez had left India earlier this year to go to Egypt for a job and landed in Libya, where he was said to be fighting for ISIS against US-backed forces.

Earlier this year, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) and ATS officials had arrested suspected IS member Mudabbir Shaikh (33) from Mumbra.

He was believed to be in direct contact with his handler Shafi Armar who is also known as Yousuf Al Hindi in ISIS.