IS module: NIA searches 5 houses in Coimbatore

No arrests made as part of the searches, according to sources

One of the houses searched by NIA in Coimbatore on Thursday

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing an Islamic State-inspired module in Coimbatore , raided the houses of five people in the city early on Thursday.

An NIA team from Kochi conducted the raids at GM Nagar, Vincent Road and Bilal Estate. They started at 5 a.m.

Sources in the NIA said no arrests were made. However, it is likely to summon the persons to Kochi for questioning.

Among the five, one's house was searched by the NIA in June.

The raids were conducted in connection with a case registered against six persons from Coimbatore in May last for alleged propagation of Islamic State ideology.

Of the six, the NIA arrested suspected leader of the module Muhammed Azharudheen (32), a Facebook friend of Zahran Hashim who masterminded the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, and Y. Shiek Hidayathullah.