Anti-terror raids in Tamil Nadu-Telangana: Digital devices, Indian, foreign currencies, incriminating books in Arabic seized by NIA

Chennai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that several digital devices and documents along with Indian and Foreign currencies, besides incriminating books in vernacular and Arabic languages, were seized during Saturday's raids in 31 locations in two southern states.

The raids were held in Tamil Nadu and Telangana to foil ISIS-inspired recruitment campaign.

A NIA release said that in a major crackdown on the ISIS radicalisation and recruitment campaign and plans, 31 locations were raided in two southern states and several digital devices and documents along with Indian and Foreign currency were seized.

The anti-terror agency is in the process of examining the data contained in the mobile phones, laptops and hard discs seized during the raids conducted across Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Several incriminating books in vernacular and Arabic languages were also seized during the searches, in addition to Rs 60 lakhs in Indian currency and 18,200 US dollars.

NIA teams swooped down on the premises of suspects in the Tamil Nadu ISIS Radicalisation and Recruitment case and raided 22 locations in Coimbatore, three in Chennai and one in Kadayanallur in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu and another five locations at Hyderabad/Cyberabad in Telangana state.

The case, registered by NIA Chennai under Secs 120-B, 121-A of IPC and Secs 13, 18, 188 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 pertains to clandestine operations by a group of individual to radicalise gullible youth.

The radicalisation was being carried out in the garb of holding Arabic language classes conducted through their Regional Study Centres.

Such radicalisation activities were being flashed online through social media platforms and mobile applications like WhatsApp and Telegram.

NIA investigations have revealed that the ISIS-inspired agent provocateurs were engaged in propogation of Khilafat ideology, which is inimical to India's constitutionally established principles of secularism and democracy.

The NIA said the group of persons involved in the ase had entered into a cospiracy to radiclise and recruit youth who were later found involved in terrorist as well s unlwfl acts and activities.

"One such terror attack related to the Coimbatore car bomb blast case of October 23,2022 (in which the key accused Jameesha Mubin was charred to death in front of a temple at Ukkadam area)", it said.

Investigations in the case are continuing aspartmof NIA's concerted efforts to thwart ISIS attempts to initiate vulnerable and susceptible youth into the terrorist network that is working actively to spread terror in the country with the overarching aim of disturbing and disrupting its peace and communal harmony. (UNI)