Thane man working with Islamic State caught in Libya, claims ATS

A 28-year-old man from Thane, who allegedly joined terror outfit Islamic State (IS), has been apprehended by enforcement agencies in Libya, ATS officials said on Saturday.

Tabrez Mohammad Tambe, a resident of Mumbra in neighbouring Thane district was caught early this week from the oil-rich country, where he had joined IS with his friend Ali, a senior ATS officer said on the condition of anonymity.

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 IS against US-backed forces, the officer said.

The IS recruit was in contact with his family till last week through cellphone and social media, he said.

Indian agencies were keeping a close watch on the activities of Tabrez, more so after his younger brother approached ATS and filed a complaint against him.

Read | Maharashtra ATS lodges complaint against Mumbai youth for allegedly joining IS

"Tabrez had been located in Libya and we were keeping an eye on his activities since last few months," the officer said.

Also, ATS is gathering information on whether some more people are in touch with Tabrez, he added. Tabrez's family members had been asking him to return to India, but he seemed to have taken fancy to the 'cushy' life with the terrorist organisation and even asked them to join him and 'settle' down in the country from where he is operating now.

"Sensing that he was in the wrong place, his (Tabrez's) brother asked him to return to India but he rejected the plea and said you (family members) come here as life is cushy," an ATS official said.

Tabrez was in contact with his wife, brother and mother and told the family about his activities for the banned Islamic State.

ATS feels Tabrez, who completed his post graduation in cargo management and transportation and got married three years ago, has actively participated in IS operations.

He visited some countries in the last five years for jobs, the official had said adding it was Ali who prompted Tabrez to join IS. Both knew each other as they worked together at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia a year ago, he said.

"We are collecting information about Ali. We are not sure whether Ali is Indian or not. As per our information, he has visited India before," Mumbai ATS chief Atulchandra Kulkarni told PTI. ATS has already registered offences against Tabrez under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention UAPA.