NIA arrests, Foreign Links, 10 Bombers, TATP, Kerala Police leaks & Terror Preachers

ISIS links and terror threat: Reported May 6

NIA arrests three more following the capture of Riyas Aboobacker. Mohammed Faisal, Aboobacker Siddiq and Ahmed Arafat are the arrested.

10 Designated Suicide bombers: Reported May 8

Through the interrogation of Riyas Aboobacker NIA has found that there were 10 designated suicide bombers in a terror cell that was targeting kerala. Besides Malayalees, it included Kashmiri separatists who had come to Kerala posing as non-Kashmiri merchants. They are reportedly camped in the Fort Kochi area. There is no record of migrant workers in Kerala so it is difficult to track such suspects. NIA is also investigating in Perumbavoor, Kollam, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod.

Saudi arrests two with Kerala Links: Reported May 8

Arrested in Saudi Arabia, The brother in-Law of Zahran Hashim (lead SriLankan bomber and NTJ Leader) Maulana Rila and his friend Shahnawaj revealed their links with Kerala. They had role in the ISIS recruitment in Kasargod. It also seems they had links with the now arrested by NIA Riyas Aboobacker of Palakkad who had admitted to be part of a sleeper cell planning terror attacks in Kerala.

ISIS recruits stationed in Malabar:

Reported May 8 ISIS recruits do not end with the ones who moved to ISIS territories in Syria and Afghanistan. Many more remain in Kerala sleeper cells. Kasargod is the most fertile recruitment ground in the region. Jihadi ideas are sowed and terror aspirants are harvested via whatsapp groups like Expose Kerala, Message Kerala and Gold Dinar among other social media platforms.

Explosive material called Mother of Satan in Kerala: Reported May 8

The interrogation of suspects from Kasargod by NIA has revealed that the same explosive material used in the Sri Lankan church bombings was imported to and stored in various locations in Kerala. Triacetone triperoxide(TATP) nicknamed Mother of Satan is a chemical compound widely used by terrorists to make IEDs.

Gulf Malayalees under scanner. Reported May 9

Malayalee migrant workers in Gulf countries are under NIA scanner investigating ISIS recruitment. NIA arrested Mohammed Faisal from Kollam who says Malayalees go to ISIS territories from other Gulf countries. NIA is coordinating efforts through embassies to bring suspects from these countries to India for processing.

Pakistan aid for Terror in Kerala: Reported May 10

NIA has revealed that besides Kashmiri Islamic separatists, the Islamists in Kerala too are receiving moral and monetary support from Pakistan. It is reported that Pak agencies had instigated and funded protests in Kerala especially the 16 April 2018 Islamist harthal and rioting in the name of Katua rape victim. Malayalees are being recruited to Pak terror organisations like Jaish e Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. Arrested Riyas Aboobacker and Mohammed Faisal said that Malayalees had gone to Pakistan via Qatar on visiting visas. Kalamassery bus burning accused Mohammed Sabir among other UAPA accused are sheltered in a Pakistan/PoK terror camps. Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies also mention radicals from India especially Kerala joining ISIS.

Muslim preachers under scanner: Reported May 10

26 Muslim preachers from Kerala and Tamilnadu are under NIA investigation concerning radicalisation and terror recruitment following the Sri Lanka church attacks. These preachers are involved in promoting Sharia law, communal violence, organised conversion and inciting hate against other religions. Investigation is centred around Mosques and madrassas promoting Jihadi ideas.

For raids, NIA avoiding jihadi infiltrated Kerala Police. Reported May 12

Terror groups get information from within the Kerala Police force. It was customary for NIA to share information with Kerala Police intelligence before raids but continued leaks tipping off Jihadi elements has frustrated the NIA who has decided to go at it alone more specifically after a secret raid in Kasargod had to be called off after the plan was leaked. NIA has also mentioned the police inaction on many warnings and precautions given to them in order to counter terror threats. Suspected police officers are being investigated. There was also an earlier report of Islamist groups within the police force and an Islamist whatsapp group called Pacha velicham (green light) was found after some Muslim police staff suspiciously lobbied for airport duty.