NIA searches 10 locations in TN over suspicions of terror activity

The locations searched were residences in Muthupet, Keelakarai, Devipattinam, Lalpet and Salem.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted searches at multiple location in Tamil Nadu over a case registered last year against 10 accused who were allegedly acting against the state. The Ramanathapuram police were initially handling the case and it was later handed over to the NIA.

The locations searched were residences in Muthupet, Keelakarai, Devipattinam, Lalpet and Salem. According to the NIA's press release, a number of digital devices including three laptops, three hard discs, 16 mobile phones, eight SIM cards, two pen drives, five memory cards and one card reader were seized. In addition to this, two knives and a large number of incriminating documents were also taken from the residences.

The ten men are being accused of acting against the state after they formed a WhatsApp group named 'Shahadat is our goal'. In 2018, they allegedly conspired together to - procure arms for their terrorist gang, to raise funds to wage an armed struggle, to facilitate the escape of terrorists from jail and to propogate their idelogy to act against the state. The residences searched include those of accused Sheikh Dawood, Mohammed Riyaz, Sadhik, Mubharis Ahmad, Rizwan and Hameed Akbar. Nine of them were arrested and let out on bail while one is still absconding.

Earlier this month, the NIA carried out searches at various locations in Trichy, Kumbakonam and Karaikal in connection with the murder of PMK man Ramalingam on February 5. The NIA raided offices of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Thirubuvanam, Karuppur and Kumbakonam and the Popular Front of India (PFI) offices in Kumbakonam and Trichy. They also searched the house of Abdul Majeed in Melakkari in Kumbakonam, an accused in the case who is absconding, while 11 others have been arrested in the case.

Last month, the NIA conducted raids at the houses of four people in Kerala in connection with investigations into the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka. 250 people were killed in the attack, and the ISIS had claimed responsibility. The searches were reportedly carried out at residences in Kasargod and Palakkad after evidence surfaced that the four individuals had allegedly followed the activities of Zahran Hashim on social media.

Sri Lankan authorities believe that Hashim was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks and his followers reportedly planned to carry out a similar suicide attack in Kerala.