Acting on specific tip-off, officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are conducting raids at the properties and residences of at least eight members who owe allegiance to a Muslim outfit in Coimbatore since Wednesday morning.
The raids are being conducted with the assistance of state police, according to sources. This is part of the follow-up of searches conducted in connection with the murder of a Hindu outfit leader. Sources confirm that the latest raids are to find any connection to the Sri Lankan blasts.
Searches were under way at the residences of Sadham, Akbar, Akram, Azarudhin, Abhubakkar, Idiyathullah and Sakhimshah since 5.30 am. All electronic equipment, computers, mobile phones of the eight members are being probed by NIA. The raids are being conducted to ascertain if the youths have any connection to the Islamic State (ISIS).
NIA sources alleged that the people in question were following the banned National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), the Sri Lankan Muslim organisation in Facebook, floated by Zaharan Hashim, the mastermind of the deadly Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka. Sources confirmed that the NIA team is from Kochi. It may be recalled that the team earlier conducted searches in Kerala soon after the blasts in Sri Lanka.
