KOCHI, COIMBATORE: THE IS module busted at Kanakamala in Kannur district last year is far from over, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) finding several persons linked to the module still subscribing to the IS ideology via online platforms.
In the latest development, the NIA intercepted three youth — two hailing from Coimbatore and one from Alappuzha in Kerala — who were in touch with the Kanakamala module and the 23-member group, which had left for Afghanistan last year.
The NIA team from Kochi had on Thursday interrogated A Adbul Rahman of Kottaikaran Pudur in Ukkadam and S Abdullah of Pallivasal Street in Karumbukadai at the Coimbatore Police Commissioner’s office. Basil Shihab (25), a native of Kidangamparambu in Alappuzha, was grilled at the Alappuzha SP office. Shihab is working at a computer shop at Vyttila in Kochi, while Rahman, a master’s degree holder in computer science, is unemployed. Abdullah runs an internet cafe in Ukkadam.
The trio were served with a notice to appear before the NIA office in Kochi on Friday for further interrogation. Based on this, Basil appeared before the NIA officers in Kochi and was quizzed by the sleuths till late night. Abdullah and Rahman also appeared before the NIA team in Kochi and the interrogation will continue on Saturday.
Besides, two more persons from Coimbatore and another from Tirupur were questioned at the Coimbatore Police Commissioner’s office on Friday. “These persons were also part of the group formed by Shajeer Mangalassery alias Abu Ayisha, who was reportedly killed in Afghanistan. They were members of the WhatsApp and Telegram groups, through which Shajeer coordinated their activities. These persons were operating online using fake names. They were continuing with the IS activities even after the module was busted in October,” an NIA officer said.
One of the suspects from Coimbatore had been maintaining contacts with Abdul Rashid, who along with 23 Keralites had left for Afghanistan last year. “We are interrogating them to ascertain the facts. As of now, none of them has been arraigned accused or has been arrested,” the officer said