Raids are being conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala in relation to the bomb cases from Coimbatore and Mangaluru last year.
According to agency sources, the raids are being conducted at 60 locations in homes and other enterprises of alleged Islamic State (IS) sympathisers in the three Southern states. It is a follow-up to the inquiry into the Deepavali Eve car bombing at Ukkadam, close to Coimbatore, on October 23, 2022, which left Jameesha Mubin, a 29-year-old young man, burnt to death.
The NIA has detained two suspects, Sheikh Hidayathullah and Sanofar Ali, in December. There have been several arrests in the case. After swearing bayath (allegiance) to IS, the primary suspect Jamesha Mubeen planned to do a suicide attack and cause significant damage to the Temple Complex in order to terrorise the neighbourhood.
The case was initially reported at PS Ukkadam in the Tamil Nadu district of Coimbatore but was later taken over by the NIA. “Investigations have revealed that the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy in the interior of forested regions of Asanoor and Kadambur areas of Sathyamangalam forest, Erode district, in February 2022. The meetings were led by previously arrested accused Umar Farook and participated by deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, Mohammed Azharudin, Sheikh Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali, where they conspired to prepare for and execute terror acts,” the NIA had said.
Investigations are also being conducted into the November 19, 2002 autorickshaw blast in Mangaluru that injured Mohammed Sharik, a 23-year-old young man.
Sharik was in Tamil Nadu and Kerala prior to the blast, according to police and government investigations. Teams of officers are still conducting the searches, which started early on Wednesday morning, searching 35 locations in Tamil Nadu, 5 locations in Kerala, and 20 locations in Karnataka.
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