Kovai IS module: 1 more held by NIA

The agency had registered a case on May 30 this year against six persons, including the two arrested, for propagating IS ideology on social media with an intention to recruit youth to carry out terrorist attacks in South India, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

It was also learnt that some of the accused persons and their associates were in touch with Zahran Hashim, the mastermind behind the Easter Day terror attacks in Sri Lanka, and his associates over social media.

Following a scrutiny of documents seized from his house, it was revealed that Shiek Hidayathullah remained associated with the banned extremist organisation, the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as well.

Meanwhile, continuing its investigation into the possible link between a local Islamic State (IS) module and the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka, the Coimbatore police questioned three alleged IS sympathisers, presently under its custody, for the second consecutive day on Friday. The trio was identified as Shajahan (25) from South Ukkadam, Muhammed Hussain (25) from Vincent Road and Sheik Sabhiullah (36) from Karumbukadai. They were arrested for allegedly propagating IS ideology. Incriminating documents, cell phones, SIM cards, hard disks and pen drives were seized following a search in their houses, police said. They were booked under different sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

When contacted, a senior police officer said that they have extracted some crucial information on their operations. However, the information gatheredfrom the trio needs to be investigated further. “This case is likely to be taken up by the NIA for further probe as the scope of their network is large,” he said.

The NIA has also issued fresh summons to four alleged IS sympathisers in Coimbatore to investigate their links with Hashim.