ISIS Tamil Nadu Head Abdul Basith Nabbed By NIA In Chennai, Had Brainwashed And Recruited College Students Through WhatsApp

In a major crackdown on extremist activities, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Abdul Basith in Chennai on 28 January 2025 for radicalising youngsters and promoting ISIS ideology. Basith, basically from Mayiladuthirai, was employed at a private ambulance service company in Purasawalkam and was detained following a raid at his residence. During the investigation, it was revealed that he was in close contact with an important ISIS leader IKMA Sadiq. Basith was considered the leader of the Tamil Nadu wing. He targeted Tamil youth and college students and brainwashed them. NIA is also conducting raids at the residences of the students who were in touch with Basith. Reports reveal that he used WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels to brainwash students.

Authorities seized a pen drive, hard disks, mobile phones, and incriminating documents during the search.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Abdul Basith operated a WhatsApp group and multiple restricted-access social media accounts aimed at targeting teenagers and young adults. These platforms were allegedly used to disseminate radical content and influence individuals toward extremist beliefs. The NIA is working to identify and track individuals connected to Basith through these channels.

IKMA Sadiq aka Sadiq Basha is from Nidur in Mayiladuthirai and was on the wanted list of 72 people by the Central Intelligence Department in India. As reported by Polimer News, IKMA Sadiq ran a martial arts institute in Chennai named IKMA and became famous because of that. He is also said to have recruited many for ISIS through that institute. Impressed by Sadiq, Basith is said to have been doing the recruitment work as revealed during the investigation. Basith incidentally worked at the ambulance service company which is located close to the NIA office in Chennai. NIA is investigating why he took up this job and also who he is in touch with in India and abroad.

The arrest was part of a larger operation that saw the NIA conduct raids at 20 locations across Tamil Nadu, including five sites in Chennai. Acting on credible intelligence, the early morning searches focused on areas where suspects were believed to be involved in propagating ISIS ideology and recruiting new members.

Official sources confirmed that these operations are linked to an ongoing investigation into ISIS-related activities. A case registered last year against ISIS sympathisers had provided leads that facilitated Tuesday’s raids. The NIA continues to probe radicalisation and recruitment networks associated with ISIS in various states across India.

(With inputs from Times of India)

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