The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting searches at over 60 locations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala in connection with the Coimbatore and Mangaluru blast last year.
The raids commenced early Wednesday morning and are being continued with teams of officers searching 35 places in Tamil Nadu, 5 in Kerala and 20 locations in Karnataka.
According to media reports, the raids are being conducted in the residence and other establishments of suspected sympathisers of Islamic State (IS) in the three Southern states.
The raid comes as a follow-up investigation following the car explosion on Diwali eve when 29-year-old Jameesha Mubin, a suspected terrorist, was killed after the car he was travelling in exploded in front of Kottai Eswaran Temple at Kottaimedu in the communally-sensitive Ukkdam area. It was reported that Mubin, who swore his allegiance to IS, wanted to carry out a suicide attack and cause extensive damage to the Temple Complex with the intention to strike terror in the community.
"Investigations have revealed that the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy in the interior of forested regions of Asanoor and Kadambur areas of Sathyamangalam forest, Erode district, in February, 2022. The meetings were led by previously arrested accused Umar Farook and participated by deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, Mohammed Azharudin, Sheikh Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali, where they conspired to prepare for and execute terror acts," the NIA had said, as reported by IANS.
At the same time, the NIA is also probing into the death Mangalore auto-rickshaw blast case on November 19, 2002 in which a 23- year-old youth Mohammed Sharik was injured.
