In an embarrassment for Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the second of four Muslim youths — who had disappeared from their homes at Malwani in north Mumbai in recent weeks and were “suspected” to have joined the international terror outfit Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) — returned home on his own on Thursday.
Within days after the ATS officials expressed suspicion that four Muslim youths might have joined ISIS after fleeing their homes at Malwani in recent weeks, Noor Mohammed (25) returned home.
“Noor returned home himself this morning. Our officials are questioning Noor about his whereabouts during the past one week,” Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni said.
Noor’s return came within 24 hours after Wajid Shaikh ( 25) – who had been detained by the ATS officials at Katraj in Pune on Tuesday – was brought home by the ATS officials from Pune on Wednesday morning.
Wajid Shaikh and Noor were among the four youths who were suspected to have joined the ISIS, after fleeing their homes.
While Wajid Shaikh, Noor and Mohisin Shikh had left together from their respective homes on December 16, Ayaz Sultan (23) has been missing since October 30.
After the parents of the four youth registered complaints about the disappearance of their children, the police and ATS had launched separate searches.
On their part, the ATS officials had earlier this gone to town suspecting that the four youths might have fled the country and joined ISIS.
However, within 36 hours after their claim, Wajid Shaikh was traced by the ATS officials at Katraj in Pune. Wajid gave details of his two other friends. With Noor having returned home, the ATS and police officials are looking out for Mohisin Shaikh, based on the details provided to them by Wajid. The police officials have come around to believe that Mohisin –like Wajid and Noor – is very much in India.
However, the ATS officials are not sure about the whereabouts of Ayaz Sultan, who was the first to flee his home on October 30.
Ayaz had left home telling his family members that he was visiting Pune in connection with a job offer in Kuwait in the Gulf, while Mohsin left home saying that he was saving he was going to attend wedding of a friend, On his part, Wajid left home, saying he was going out to make application for getting his name corrected in the Aadhar card. Noor had left home on some false pretext.
With Wajid and Noor having returned home little over a week after their disappearance, the ATS have no evidence to suggest these two youths have any links with ISIS.
All the same, the ATS officials are not taking any chances. “While we are on the look for the Ayaz and Mohsin, we will keep a watch on the movements and activities of Wajid and Noor to ensure that they have not fallen into bad company during their absence from their homes,” a senior official said.