Representative image of arrest.
Credit: iStock Photo
Hyderabad: A team of central intelligence agencies led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took Sheik Kothwal Noor Mohammad, 42, into custody from Dharmavaram in Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday on suspicion of having links with Pakistan-based terrorist organizations.
According to police sources, Mohammad settled in Dharmavaram town approximately 15 years ago and has been working in local hotels. He was last employed at a tea stall located on Market Street.
Police became suspicious about Mohammad's background after monitoring his social media activity and launched surveillance on him. On Saturday, police found that he was part of several radical WhatsApp groups. The police team also recovered 16 SIM cards from his possession.
"As of now, we have found that he has been active on some radical groups on WhatsApp. Further details we can get once we start questioning him," a senior police official said.
Police sources also said that Mohammad, who was living in a rented accommodation, recently purchased land in Dharmavaram town and began constructing a house with luxurious features.
Beyond basic details about Mohammad such as his nature, occupation, and residence, there is limited information available about his background, including his place of origin or marital status, local police said.
The sudden purchase of expensive property drew attention from both the public and police, raising further suspicions about his activities and sources of income.