INDIA, Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested four people accused of being involved in terrorist activities from Tamil Nadu and Kerala and busted Kerala ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) Module early this week.
Based on credible inputs, NIA conducted an intelligence-led joint operation with the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Kerala Police and searched four locations following the arrest of one accused, Ashif Mathilakath Kodayil Ashraf, from his hideout near Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
NIA official Indian wrote in a statement shared on Twitter, “The raids were conducted at three locations in Thrissur and one in Palakkad districts of Kerala to bust the IS module, which had been conducting reconnaissance missions and conspiring to commit terrorist attacks.”
“On Tuesday, NIA successfully tracked and arrested an accused Ashif @ Mathilakath Kodayil Ashraf from his hideout near Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu. The next day (19.7.2023), searches were conducted in the houses of Ashif, as well as three others, identified as Seyid Nabeel Ahammed, Shiyas TS of Thrissur and Rayees of Palakkad. Digital devices and incriminating documents were seized during these raids,” they further wrote.
“The module had been engaged in raising funds for promoting ISIS activities and carrying out terror attacks by committing dacoities and other criminal activities. They were conspiring to commit terrorist activities and had already conducted a recce of a few various prominent places, including places of worship and leaders of certain communities in the State. They aimed to spread terror and trigger a communal divide in Kerala,” they concluded.
The arrest was made under the FIR (RC-02/2023/NIA/KOC) registered by the NIA on July 11, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) (amended in 2019).
After conducting reconnaissance of important areas, such as places of worship and leaders of particular communities within the State, ISIS’ ultimate goal was to commit acts of terrorism.
The NIA has blocked their attempts to spread fear and stir up communal conflict in Kerala by thwarting their objectives.
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