The National Investigation Agency arrested six people from Kerala on Sunday for allegedly being involved in terrorist activities, reported ANI. The agency claimed that it busted a module that had alleged links with the Islamic State group, after they received inputs that “some youths from Kerala and Tamil Nadu” were planning to “target important people and places across south India” and had collected explosives and other materials for attacks.
Of the six people arrested, five were picked up while they were conducting a meeting at Kanakamala hilltop in Kannur district. “Another person was arrested from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district later,” said an NIA official. The agency also seized “incriminating material, including electronic devices.” According to Hindustan Times, the NIA had been following the men for the past two months after getting a tip-off.
The agency on Monday detained one more person, from Tamil Nadu, based on information gathered from interrogating the six men from Kerala. Currently, the NIA is conducting search operations in Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Kannur, Kozhikode and Mallapuram in Kerala.
Earlier, 21 people from Kerala had gone missing and were suspected to have joined the Islamic State group. On July 20, Arshid Qureshi, who is associated with controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation, was arrested for allegedly radicalising one of these 21 people. However, the NIA said that these six people have no connection with those who went missing, reported The Indian Express.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!