An NIA court in Chennai has convicted Abdullah alias Shravan Kumar, a member of the terrorist outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), for promoting the banned group’s divisive and violent ideology. The court sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for offences under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The court found Abdullah guilty of advising and inciting others to commit illegal activities. The NIA’s investigation revealed that the accused had sought support for HUT, which aims to destabilize democratically elected governments in countries like India. In 2021, Abdullah uploaded posts on his Facebook account ‘Abdullah Ibn Subramaniam’ on two occasions, attempting to influence India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), a global Islamic group founded in Jerusalem in 1953, was banned by the Indian government on Thursday for seeking to establish an Islamic state and caliphate through jihad and terrorist activities.
The Union Home Ministry’s notification stated that HUT actively radicalizes vulnerable youth, enticing them to join terrorist organizations like IS and raise funds for such activities. The group uses internet media platforms and secure apps to spread its agenda and encourages youth to participate in terrorist activities by organizing dawah (invitation) meetings.
The Ministry of Home Affairs identified HUT as a serious threat to the country’s democratic system and internal security, as its objective is to overthrow democratically elected governments and establish an Islamic state through jihad and terrorism.