Busting of terror module in Kerala: NIA conducts searches in Coimbatore

The module had allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist activities in Kerala by targeting at least five prominent persons.

FILE - In this Monday, June 16, 2014 file photo, demonstrators chant slogans to support al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. The al-Qaida breakaway group that has seized much of northern Syria and huge tracks of neighboring Iraq formally declared the creation of an Islamic state on Sunday, June 29, in the territory under its control. (AP Photo, File)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at two places in Coimbatore in connection with a secret meeting of Islamic State (IS)-inspired Umar Al Hindi module at Kanakamala near Panoor in Kannur district of Kerala in October last.

The searches were conducted at South Ukkadam by an NIA team based on warrants issued by the NIA court, Kochi.

Sources in the NIA said the searches were conducted as one person from Alappuzha and two from Coimbatore were found to be in touch with people who allegedly joined the IS from southern States. Data storage devices, mobile and laptops were seized from them.

The Umar Al Hindi module was busted by the NIA on October 2, 2016, when six persons, including module leader Manseed aka Omar Al Hindi aka Muthuka (30) of Kannur, were holding the secret meeting at Kanakamala.

Of the six arrested, Abu Basheer aka Rashid aka Buccha aka Dalpati aka Ameer, 29, belonged to South Ukkadam. He is the third accused in the case. The NIA searched his house.

The module had allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist activities in Kerala by targeting at least five prominent persons.