Remove the tag of terrorist organization from ISIS, my lord! SC judge offers help on terrorist's plea

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a high-stakes Supreme Court hearing on December 4, 2024, Sakib Nachan, the alleged head of ISIS in India, appealed for the removal of the terrorist designation on ISIS and other related groups. Currently in Tihar Jail, Nachan is facing multiple charges of terrorism, including his role in recruiting individuals for ISIS and orchestrating anti-national activities.

Appearing via video conferencing, Nachan, who is accused of being a key operator of ISIS’s network in India, filed a petition requesting the annulment of government notifications that officially label ISIS and its affiliates as terrorist organizations. He argued for the removal of the terrorist status granted to these groups.

Justices Suryakant and Ujjwal Bhuiyan were presiding over the case, and Justice Suryakant suggested that Nachan seek legal assistance through an amicus curiae to strengthen his case. The court assured that it would consider his plea after the legal proceedings.

Nachan's involvement with ISIS was exposed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in December 2023, when they uncovered a major terror module operating across India. Nachan has been accused of masterminding the recruitment of youth for ISIS and promoting the organization’s agenda.

The accused is no stranger to the world of terror. A former member of the banned organization SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), Nachan has previously been convicted in connection with the 2002-2003 Mumbai bombings and was sentenced for his role in other terrorist activities. His current petition is an attempt to challenge his designation as a terrorist, but the NIA’s investigations and charges against him continue to mount.