New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS): The Indian Mujahideen wanted to make India like war-torn Iraq and Syria by carrying out regular terrorist activities in the country, according to charge sheet filed against top suspected operatives by the NIA.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said top IM operative Mohammad Shafi Armar alias Shafi alias Atta Bhatkal, who is on run, has travelled to Afghanistan and Syria and worked with the Al Qaeda. He was in regular contact with top IM men like Riyaz, Iqbal and Yasin Bhatkal.

"During a chat, the accused Armar stated that he desired that India should become like Iraq and Syria (where terrorist activities were continuously going on and large scale violence was also taking place)," the NIA said in the charge sheet against Tehsin Akhtar, Waqas, Haidar Ali alias Abdullah and 17 other absconding accused including IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Mirza Shahid Beg and Armar.

A court Thursday took cognisance of the charge sheet filed Monday.

It was the third charge sheet filed in the case, registered on Sep 10, 2012 against members of IM for carrying out terrorist activities and conspiracy to wage war against the country.

Tehsin was arrested March 25 near the India-Nepal border in West Bengal while Waqas was arrested outside the Ajmer railway station March 22. Haidar was arrested July 2.

In February, the NIA has charge sheeted IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and three others, and in July 2013, five more IM cadre - Mohammad Danish Ansari, Mohammad Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, Syed Maqbool and Obaid-ur-Rehman.

They are booked under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for conspiracy to commit offences against the state.