The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids in five residences across Tamil Nadu, seizing sim cards, laptops and mobile phones from Coimbatore. Further details are awaited. Coimbatore was on high alert after intelligence inputs warned of the possibility of six LeT operatives—one Pakistani Muslim and five from Sri Lanka—having entered the district. According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan-based terror groups could target vital installations in several key Indian cities in the next few weeks.
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In June, the NIA had detained six people for questioning and arrested prime accused Mohammed Azarudeen, who was a Facebook friend of Sri Lankan Easter Day blasts mastermind Zahran Hashim.
NIA had registered cases on May 30 against Azarudeen, Sheik Hidyathullah, Akram Sindhaa, Aboobacker M., Sadham Hussain and Ibrahim alias Shahin, all from Coimbatore, for their involvement in recruiting youth and planning terrorist attacks in south India, especially Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Azarudeen was the leader of the module and had been maintaining the Facebook page named 'KhilafahGFX', through which he propagated the ideology of ISIS/Daish, the probe agency said. The ISIS had claimed responsibility for the serial bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21 in which around nine suicide bombers were involved.
