Mumbai: A youth allegedly associated with controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s foundation has been arrested by a joint team of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Kerala Police here on Thursday. He is accused of recruiting youth from Kerala for the dreaded terror outfit Islamic State.

Arshid Qureshi, allegedly associated with IRF Foundation of Zakir Naik, was arrested in Navi Mumbai.

The arrest was made after Ebin Jacob, the brother of Merin alias Mariam who went missing from Kerala along with her husband informed police that a man along with Qureshi tried to forcibly convert him to Islam, so that he could join the Islamic State. A case under IPC sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 153 A (promoting enmity between groups) as well as under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act was registered in Kochi against Qureshi. He was produced before the Belapur court in Navi Mumbai which granted Kerala Police his transit remand till July 25. Kerala Police will now produce him in a court in Kochi.

Over 20 Keralites who have gone missing are suspected of leaving the country to join ISIS. Mumbai-based Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik is under the scanner of probe agencies after it emerged that some of the Dhaka attackers were inspired by his speeches.