The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at Thanjavur and Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu in a case linked to propagating terrorist ideology in India and related to April’s terror attacks in Sri Lanka.
Documents and devices were seized in connection with a case against persons “propagating the ideology of the proscribed terrorist organisation Islamic State”.
On May 30, the NIA registered a case against six persons from Coimbatore for propagating IS ideology on social media with the intention of recruiting vulnerable youth and carrying out terrorist attacks in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
With warrants issued by an NIA Special Court in Ernakulam, two teams searched the houses of S. Sarfudeen, 28, in Edamalaipattipudur on the outskirts of Tiruchi and Sheik Alaudin, 55, of Attumandhai Street in Thanjavur.
The search at the house of Mr. Sarfudeen that began around 6.30 a.m. lasted for over two hours. The NIA action came a day before he was reportedly scheduled to fly to Dubai.
Besides questioning the inmates of the house, the NIA officials checked the electronic devices used by him.
The NIA said previous searches were conducted on June 12 and based on the incriminating facts revealed, two accused — Mohammed Azarudheen and Sheik Hidayathulla — were arrested.
“Now, during searches at the houses of two associates, namely Alavudeen, resident of Thanjavur, and S. Sarfudeen, resident of Tiruchi, digital devices including two laptops, six mobile phones, 11 SIM cards, one pen drive, one hard disc, one memory card, five CDs/ DVDs, one axe and 17 documents have been seized,” the NIA said.
The investigation agency said the seized items, including the digital devices, would be submitted to the NIA Special Court and the digital devices subjected to forensic examination. “The suspects are being examined to ascertain their association with the arrested accused persons besides their involvement in any unlawful activity, intended at furthering the objectives of IS,” the NIA said.
