JOIN USThe National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken into custody three men — one a native of Alappuzha and the others from Coimbatore — for their reported links with Umar Al Hindi module inspired by the Islamic State (IS).
They were detained on Thursday after raids at their residence following inputs that they were in contact with suspected IS recruits from south India.
Data storage devices, mobile phones and other materials were seized. The raids were conducted after obtaining orders from the NIA court in Kochi.
Alok Mittal, Inspector-General, NIA, confirmed the detention and said no arrest had been recorded.
“We are examining possibilities of their links to the IS,” Mittal told DH.
An NIA Kochi team is interrogating the Alappuzha native, who is employed by a private firm in Kochi, and the two others.
Reports said the detained men were maintaining social media contact with suspected IS recruits.
The NIA raids were linked to the investigation in a case regarding the Umar Al Hindi module and a meeting held by its members in Kanakamala in Kannur district, in October last year.
According to the NIA charge sheet in the case, members of the module — youth from Kerala and Tamil Nadu — entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India.
Six of the accused were arrested while one is absconding. The agency said the youth were involved in a conspiracy to target prominent persons.