NIA probes 'Kill list' declared by IS targeting I-T engineers, ethical hackers

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday has gathered a 'Kill list' which is said to be prepared by Islamic State to target ethical hackers, software managers and professionals who have helped security agencies track down IS members.

The list has names of 150 such professionals across Maharashtra with 70 from Mumbai.

The security agencies are analysing the list and also suspect that may be the list floated by the outfit is for the purpose of diverting attention of investigators from the real targets.

The list was found on a laptop belonging to alleged IS recruit Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus, from Parbhani in Maharashtra, who has been arrested. This list was shared by his handler identified as Syria-based Shafi Armar alias Yusuf alias Farooque. The 'kill list,' sources said, specifies names, designations, companies and email addresses of the targets.

This is not the first time that list of this kind is declared. In June last year, the pro-ISIS United Cyber Caliphate hacker group released a list of 8,318 people, including their addresses and email details, on a Telegram.

Also Read: Tests confirm ISIS making chemical weapons in Mosul University, says Pentagon