KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Kochi has granted extended time period to the NIA for probing the case related to the Kerala module of the so-called Islamic State (IS) which was busted at Kanakamala in Kannur in October 2016. A fortnight ago, the anti-terror outfit had filed a petition for extending the time granted for filing the charge sheet before completion of the mandatory 90 day-period.
According to NIA officials, the investigation is making good progress. “Usually, in cases registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act(UAPA), the investigation team receives 180 days of time period to complete the probe and file the charge sheet. However, on completion of the 90 day-period, the investigation team has to file a petition for extension of the time period. As per the provision, we approached the NIA Court for extension of time period and it was granted. Now, the charge sheet has to be filed within 180 days of registering the case. Otherwise, the arrested persons would become eligible for statutory bail,” an NIA official said.
It was on October 2, 2016, that the NIA nabbed six persons of the IS module from Kanakamala in Kannur. During further investigation, the NIA managed to nab a Thodupuzha native residing at Madurai,who had returned from Iraq after fighting on the IS frontline there.
IS fighter Subahani Haja Moideen was trained by two persons involved in the deadly Paris terror strike of 2015 which claimed over 125 lives.