Thiruvananthapuram: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it had busted an Islamic State-inspired terror module and arrested six persons in Kerala for conspiring to carry out terror acts. According to the NIA, “Information was received that some youths from Kerala and Tamil Nadu along with their accomplices have entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit terror acts by collecting explosives and other offensive material to target important persons and places in various parts of south lndia.”
Based on the information, the Union Home Ministry had directed the NIA to investigate the matter and accordingly, the agency registered a case at its Kochi branch under IPC sections for criminal conspiracy, waging or attempting to wage war against the Government of India, collecting arms, etc with the intention of waging war against the GOI and sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Acting on the information, NIA teams along with Kerala, Delhi and Telangana police, launched surveillance on the movements of the accused allegedly involved in the conspiracy. According to an NIA statement, “During searches conducted in the districts of Kozikhode and Kannur in Kerala, six persons have been arrested for their involvement in the conspiracy. Five of them were arrested while conducting a meeting at Kanakamala hilltop in Kannur district, Kerala. Subsequently, another person was arrested from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district later.”
“During the searches, incriminating material, including electronic devices, were seized from them and their premises. Follow-up searches are being conducted by the NIA in Chennai, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Kannur, Kozhikode and Mallapuram in Kerala.” Incidentally, these six have no connection with the group of 22 who reportedly left for IS-controlled Nangharhar in Afghanistan.
