35-year-old Dubai-bound ‘ISIS recruit’ arrested at Pune airport

The state police arrested a suspected ISIS recruit at the Pune airport yesterday.

Identified as Ismail Abdul Rauf, the 35-year-old resident of Bhatkal town in Karnataka was intercepted while he was about to board a flight to Dubai.

Rauf was watch of intelligence agencies, and a lookout circular was issued for him to ensure he does not leave the country. His activities were under scanner as he was suspected to be in touch with ISIS recruiters.

The Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) had been closely monitoring his suspicious movements, and believe he was travelling to Dubai to meet some handlers.

Though he has been taken into custody by the state police, he may be soon handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that is probing similar ISIS related cases.

In the past, Indians living in the UAE have been identified for having alleged ISIS links. On September 15, last year, the UAE had deported four Indians suspected to have links with the ISIS.