On May 27th, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an ISIS terror suspect in Mayiladuthurai who was wanted for a criminal plot in 2018 reportedly directed against a few leaders in Coimbatore including Indu Makkal Katchi Chief Arjun Sampath.
The suspect, A Mohammed Ashiq (25), was apprehended in Needur, near Mayiladuthurai on Thursday. He allegedly pledged loyalty to the terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2018 and was wanted as a prime suspect in a conspiracy to assassinate a few leaders in Coimbatore.
According to NIA sources, a group of seven people from different parts of Tamil Nadu formed a group in Coimbatore and swore allegiance to the terrorist organization ‘ISIS’. They planned to assassinate pro-Hindu politicians in Coimbatore, endangering communal peace as well as the country’s security and sovereignty.
The NIA arrested the group in New Delhi in September 2018 and booked them under various sections including unlawful assembly (IPC 143), criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B) and several sections under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Mohammed Ashiq, who was on trial at Poonamallee in Chennai in 2019 before the Special Court for NIA Cases, was granted bail. However, the court issued a non-bailable warrant to arrest Ashiq as he failed to appear at the following hearings.
According to police sources, Mohammed Ashiq came to Mayiladuthurai months ago and was working in a broiler shop in Needur.
Upon receiving intelligence inputs, a team of NIA officials, accompanied by the local police personnel, raided the broiler shop and arrested Mohammed Ashiq around 9 pm on Thursday.
Mohammed Ashiq was taken to Chennai by the NIA after a brief investigation. The police said that he is likely to be produced in NIA Special Court again.
(with inputs from NewIndianExpress )
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