Jahanjeb Sami and Hina Bashir Baig, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, relocated to Delhi in 2019. Sami, equipped with degrees in BTech and MBA, secured employment with a UK-based firm, while Baig, also holding an MBA, previously worked in the banking sector. They settled in Jamia Nagars C Block, both in their mid-30s and found solace in leisurely weekends, often spent watching movies or exploring the Okhla bird sanctuary.Roots to extremismThe couples routine took a dark turn amidst the Anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests, and subsequently, the onset of the Covid pandemic. Their lifestyle transitioned to one of seclusion, with most days spent indoors, engrossed in online activities. Adopting aliases like Hannabee and Xaib, they delved into virtual realms, concealing their true identities and intentions.On March 8, 2020, the couples covert activities came to a halt when they were apprehended under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the National Investigative Agency (NIA), which had been monitoring the couples online presence for an extended period. Their digital footprints revealed affiliations with the Islamic State (IS), prompting deeper scrutiny of their extremist connections.Shocking revelationsAfter enduring a legal process spanning over four years, the court pronounced its verdict. Sami faced a hefty 20-year sentence for his role in attempting to establish a caliphate and orchestrating plans for 100 blasts, while Baig received two consecutive seven-year terms. The couples involvement in radicalizing impressionable minds and curating extremist propaganda via an online magazine linked them directly to known IS operatives.Digital network of extremismDespite their efforts to obfuscate their online endeavors, investigators penetrated their digital fortress, unraveling a network of radicalization that spanned across India. Baigs influence extended to a Pune-based couple, already under surveillance for their IS sympathies, further exacerbating the threat posed by the couples extremist ideologies.
