NIA searches at 3 places in Kerala as part of probe into ISIS module

NEW DELHI: The National Investigations Agency (NIA) on Sunday carried out raids at three places in Kerala in connection with the Islamic State (IS) Kasaragod case and claimed to have seized diaries with handwritten notes in Arabic and Malayalam, DVDs of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The controversial TV evangelist is wanted by Indian agencies and is presently on the run.

After the rids, NIA said three suspects are being questioned in connection with their alleged links to Islamic State (IS). The development comes in the aftermath of sri lanka easter bombings which killed over 250 people. IS has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

NIA also carried out searches at houses of the three suspects, two in Kasaragod and one in Palakkad. The three persons are suspected to have links with some other people, especially youth, who left India to join the terror outfit.


The Kasaragod module case came to light in 2016 after the NIA busted an IS module and arrested 25-year-old Habeeb Rehman. On further investigation, the agency came to know that several other youngsters from the state had left to join the terror outfit.

During the fresh raids on Sunday, a number of digital devices including mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards, pen drives and diaries with handwritten notes in Arabic and Malayalam, DVDs of Zakir Naik were retrieved. Investigating officers also found untitled DVDs, CDs with religious speeches, books authored by Zakir Naik and Syed Kutheb.

Authorities are trying to find out more details about their ties with the terror group through interrogation after the bombings in Sri Lanka that claimed several lives, including over 10 Indians.

Soon after the attack, India has stepped up security across south India states. Tamil Nadu has been on high alert since the bomb blasts shook the island nation on April 21.