The arrest was made on the charge of propagating the Islamic State ideology and involving in a conspiracy to stage terror attacks in parts of Tamil Nadu.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Chennai resident on the charge of propagating the Islamic State ideology and involving in a conspiracy to stage terror attacks in parts of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, the NIA accused Shakul Hameed and eight others of hatching a conspiracy to launch attacks to further the activities of the proscribed terrorist organisation. A case was registered suo motu against the nine accused at the NIA police station in Delhi on January 26.

“The accused people and their associates, with the intention of furthering the activities of the proscribed terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/Daesh, had hatched a criminal conspiracy from 2013 onwards and formed a terrorist gang which had raised and received funds, organised meetings, recruited and facilitated the travel of some persons to Syria to join the ISIS/ Daesh,” the statement said.

Investigation had revealed that main accused Haja Fakkurudeen, a Singaporean citizen of Indian origin and a native of the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, joined the IS in Syria in January, 2014, along with his family, the NIA said. He visited India twice between November, 2013 and January, 2014, and held conspiracy meetings along with co-accused Khaja Moideen, Shakul Hameed and others at various places in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with the intention of recruiting more people into the IS, it said.

In pursuance of the conspiracy, Shakul Hameed attempted to migrate to the IS-controlled territory in Syria in August, 2015 through Turkey, but was intercepted by the Turkish authorities and deported to India. He would be produced before the NIA special court in Chennai, the statement said.

On September 15, Khaja Moideen alias Abdullah Muthalif, son of Chinna Thambi Ambalam of Cuddalore district, was remanded in the case by the Chennai NIA special court.