Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Sunday that the suspect, Altaf Ahmed Khan, had been arrested following a tip-off from J&K police.

According to the information passed on, Khan had undergone training in Pakistan under ISI and other organisations. He is wanted in a number of terrorism-related cases including smuggling of arms. He had been been staying in Kumili disguised as a Kashmiri handicrafts merchant since 2000 and is even believed to have travelled to his state several times during this period. The police have recovered a fake  identity card in which his name was written as Muhammad Ahammad Butt.

“Police had stepped up vigil across the state in view of the latest development. Information is being collected on workers and traders stationed in tourist spots and construction sites where migrant labourers are engaged,” the minister said.

According to him, there had been intelligence reports about anti-national elements making Kerala a safe hideout.

The boom in the tourism and construction sectors had made the situation conducive for them.

It may be recalled that the Andhra police had apprehended a senior leader of the People’s War Group who has been evading arrest for more than 30 years last month. The minister said that Altaf would be handed over to the J& K police soon.