NIA raids at least 10 places in Tamil Nadu over suspected Islamic State links

The National Investigations Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at 10 places in Tamil Nadu in connection with a case filed against eight people for allegedly supporting Islamic State (IS).

The case, registered on January 8, was filed against eight suspects from three districts under eight sections. The accused were allegedly conspiring against India by supporting the IS and planning to get jihadis lodged in Indian prisons released.

The NIA carried out searches at the residences of Sheikh Dawood, Mohammed Riyaz, Sadhik, Mubharis Ahmad, Rizwan and Hameed Akbar in Ramanathapuram, Salem, and Chidambaram.

NIA sources also claimed that few members did not turn up for questioning when they were summoned by the officials.

The searches come after the agency raided eight locations of Popular Front of India offices in Tamil Nadu and three locations of Tauheed Jamaat offices on May 2.

The raids were related to unearthing Indian links with the Sri Lanka blasts that killed more than 253 persons on Easter Sunday.

After the arrest of 29-year-old Riyas Aboobacker in April, NIA established the presence of Islamic State sleeper cells operating in Tamil Nadu under the cover of Popular Front of India promoting Tauheed Jamaat ideologies in India.

Riyaz Aboobacker, who hails from Muthalamada in Palakad district of Kerala, admitted to following Sri Lankan bomber Zahran Hashim and Zakir Naik. He was planning to carry out a suicide attack, according to the NIA.

Source: India Today