TN IS chief, 2 aides held in Delhi, Jihadi hand in cop killing probed

Khaja Moideen, 49, the self-styled TN IS chief and main accused in Hindu Munnani leader KP Suresh Kumar’s murder case of 2014, was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Thursday along with two of his associates Syed Ali Nawaz, 32,and Abdul Samad, 28. The Tamil Nadu police are probing the involvement of an absconding TN-based IS militant in the murder of Special Sub Inspector Wilson.

The trio, which has been on the run for two months, was allegedly planning a terror strike in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Eastern Uttar Pradesh, officials said. Delhi police claimed that the three men were arrested following an exchange of fire in New Delhi’s Wazirabad area.

Samad has no cases pending against him in Tamil Nadu while Moideen was earlier arrested in an IS case by NIA. Moideen and Nawaz along with Abdul Shameem, all suspects in the Hindu Munnani leader murder case, had disappeared from police radar in November. The TN police had alerted their counterparts in Delhi, Mumbai and had asked them to look for the three. The trio were allegedly planning to flee to Nepal and and then to Pakistan after carrying out a terror attack in Delhi. Police received information that the three men had arrived in Delhi from Nepal, taken a room on rent and also procured arms and ammunition.

According to the police, Moideen held several closed-door meetings at his various hideouts to indoctrinate the youth and make them pledge their allegiance to the IS, the officer said, adding that they were being guided by a foreign-based handler.

Moideen, along with his associates Syed Ali Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Abdul Shameem, Thofeeq and Jaffar Ali, had decided to leave from their respective places simultaneously. Moideen, Nawaz and Samad went to Kathmandu after illegally crossing the border with the help of fake documents. After setting up a base in the neighbouring country, they came to Delhi. Their hideout and weapons in Delhi were arranged by the foreign-based handler through one of his contacts here, police said.

Meanwhile, the Kanniyakumari district police have released sketches of Thofeeq and Shameem as the two suspects behind the killing of

Special Sub Inspector Wilson on Wednesday. Tension prevailed since Thursday morning at Marthandam after the victim’s relatives and cadre of political parties raised slogans demanding immediate arrest of the accused. Wilson was shot dead by two people near the Padathalamoodu check post near

Kaliakavilai in Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday night.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday condoled the killing ofSpecial Sub-InspectorY. Wilson, who was shot dead by a two-member gang at Kaliyakkavilaicheck-post inKanniyakumari district on Wednesday night.

The deceased victim was a resident of Paruthivilai Main road, Marthandam. Promising financial assistance and a government job to the deceased family, the Chief Minister informed the Assembly that a six-member team had been formed to nab those involved in the murder. Stringent action would be taken against the killers and the CCTV cameras in the areas are under scanner.

The Chief Minister, in his speech, detailed the legislators that the incident occurred during the routine vehicle checks at Kaliyakkavilai check-post in Kanniyakumari district on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.

He said that Wilson, who was rushed to Kuzhithurai Government Hospitalwas declared dead. State DGP JK Tripathy had rushed to the crime spot for an inquiry and two bullets have been seized by the police. The special teams were analysing the CCTV footages installed in shops and houses in the area.

The Chief Minister also announced a solatium for deceased Akesh of Tiruvallur, who lost his life while saving the life of a woman who was kidnapped by an auto driver Kesavan.

Commending the bravery of Akesh and his friend Franklin,who followed the autorickshaw in their bike leading to a fatal accident, the Chief Minister announced Rs 10 lakh for the bereaved family members of Akesh and announced Rs 2 lakh for Franklin, who sustained serious injuries. The Chief Minister also announced Rs 4 lakh for deceased V Murugan, who was trampled by a wild elephant near Athur reserve forests in Dindigul district.