NIA arrests prime accused in ISIS North Paravur case in Kannur

New Delhi: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested the prime accused Muhammed Riyaz in ISIS North Paravur Case from Kannur in Kerala. “The arrested accused was produced before the NIA Special Court, Ernakulam on Sunday and remanded to judicial custody. Application will be moved before the Court seeking NIA custody of the accused, for his detailed interrogation”, NIA said in its official release.The case was originally registered by the Kerala Police on December 13, 2017 against nine accused persons and their unknown associates, based on a complaint received by the Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam from the victim.

She is a native of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala but presently residing in Gujarat state. The victim has stated in her complaint that Muhammed Riyaz pursuant to the criminal conspiracy hatched with co-accused and their unknown associates had lured, raped her and he recorded her objectionable videos. He also threatened the victim, forcefully converted her to Islam and married her by creating forged documents. 

She has also alleged that she was taken to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia by the accused persons with the intention of further transporting her to Syria.
Subsequently, based on the statement of the victim recorded under section 164 of CrPC, the Kerala Police had arraigned Siyad, the other accused and Zeenath, mother-in-law of the victim as accused in the case.

Two accused persons namely Fawas Jamal and Siyad, both residents of North Paravur, Ernakulam were arrested in this case by the Kerala Police for having assisted the prime accused Riyaz in commission of the crime on January 10 this year.The main accused Muhammed Riyaz was detained at Chennai International Airport on his arrival from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on February 2, 2018. Consequently, NIA investigators at Chennai had verified his identity and seized two mobile phones besides one pen drive from the accused, before summoning him to Kochi, for further examination.

The accused reported to NIA branch office, Kochi and was examined in detail regarding the incriminating facts appearing against him, before he was arrested on Saturday.This case was transferred to NIA by the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 24 this year. (UNI)