NIA arrests six persons in Kerala for conspiring to commit terrorist acts

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested six persons in Kerala's Kannur district for their alleged involvement in a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist acts across southern India.

According to an NIA release, the accused were inspired by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), and were collecting explosives and other offensive material for targeting important persons and places of public importance in various parts of south India.

Acting on a tip-off, the NIA along with Kerala Police, Delhi Police and Telangana Police, launched surveillance on the movements of the accused involved in the conspiracy.

During searches conducted today in Kozikhode and Kannur, NIA arrested five people while they were conducting a meeting at Kanakamala hilltop, whereas the sixth person was detained from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district and arrested later on.

Incriminating material, including electronic devices, were seized from their possession while searching their premises.

The investigative agency has registered the case under sections 120B, 121, 121A and 122 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 18, 18B, 20, 38 & 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused who have been identified as Manseed, Abu Basheer, Swalih Mohammed, Safwan P, Jasim NK, Ramshad and Nageelan Kandiyil.

The accused will be produced before the NIA Special Court in Ernakulam seeking their police custody for further examination.

Meanwhile, follow up searches are being conducted by the NIA in Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Kannur, Kozikhode and Mallapuram in Kerala with the support of Tamil Nadu and Kerala police.