NIA carries out searches in TN over plot to kill Hindu

: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches across Tamil Nadu as part of its probe into a plot to kill Hindu activists in Coimbatore.

The agency said searches were carried out in Coimbatore, Sivaganga, Tiruchirapally, Nagapattinam and Tuticorin districts, where electronic gadgets and documents were seized.

The agency conducted searches at six locations in these districts as part of further investigation in the ISIS Coimbatore Case, according to a spokesperson of NIA.

"The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy hatched by six charge-sheeted accused persons and their associates, with the intention of furthering the objectives of ISIS/Daish by targeting certain Hindu activists in Coimbatore," NIA said.

The accused arrested by the state police in September 2018 and charge-sheeted by NIA in February this year "had conducted preparations, including reconnaissance of targets, for launching such attacks, which would have caused communal disharmony and terror in the state," the spokesperson said.

Investigation has revealed the charge-sheeted accused and their associates were radicalised on the violent extremist ideology of ISIS/Daish by following the speeches and videos of the Sri Lankan ISIS/ Daish leader Zahran Hashim, over social media platforms.

"During searches, two laptops, eight mobile phones, five SIM cards, one SD card and fourteen documents have been seized."