Mangaluru: Gulf-bound man released by NIA; no evidence of ISIS link

Mangaluru, Dec 26: A UAE-bound man, who had been taken into custody by authorities onsuspicion' at Mangaluru International Airport last week, later became anISIS terrorist' for a section of media.

Even though 41-year-old Munaf Rahman, a resident of Old Kent Road, Mangaluru, was released by the NIA officials, who found him innocent, a few Kannada television channels on December 25 claimed that NIA had taken him to New Delhi for further inquiry.

A section of media went on to claim that Munaf had ISIS links and that he had planned to officially join the dreaded terror outfit after flying into Syria.

In fact, Munaf had gone to the Airport along with his wife and children to board the 9W 504 Jet plane bound for Sharjah on December 23. When Airport authorities questioned the intention behind visiting Sharjah, he said that he was on his way to meet his wife's sister Ashika who stays there.

When authorities continued to question him, Munaf lost patience and reportedly behaved rudely. His behaviour gave rise to suspicion in the minds of immigration authorities and hence they took him to custody and handed him over to Umesh Rai, an officer of the NIA. Munaf's wife and children were sent home.

Despite subjecting Munaf to a rigorous interrogation, NIA officials failed to get any evidence against him. Hence, they released him after impounding his passport and asked him not to leave the city without permission.

According to sources, Munaf is a native of Thalassery in Kerala and he has been residing in Mangaluru for past five years along with his family. He is engaged in crockery business both in Kerala and Karnataka.

Interestingly, a Gujarati youth, identified as Arjun, was also detained on the same day at the same Airport by the authorities for carrying a live bullet in his pocket. Neither he was handed over to the NIA, nor he was treated like a terrorist.

Also Read: Gujarati youth arrested at Mangaluru Airport for carrying live bullet