CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches at nine locations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as part of the investigation following the arrest of five men with alleged Islamic State (IS) links in Mayiladuthurai in February.
Several electronic devices including laptops, mobile phones and hard disks apart from pamphlets with IS messages were seized, said NIA sources adding that the gadgets would be sent for forensic analysis.
The accused, arrested for threatening police at gunpoint, either owned or used the raided properties.
The searches were carried out at three places in Chennai, including a partially abandoned complex on Anna Salai and Mannadi.
One place was searched at Karaikal in Puducherry and five places in Mayiladuthurai. Among the arrested are Mohamed Ashiq of Coimbatore, Mohamed Irfan of Karaikal, Rahmath of Chennai and Jabahar Ali of Mayiladuthrai. They are at present lodged at the Central Prison in Trichy.
The case was taken over by the NIA Chennai wing. An NIA source said the prime accused, 'Needur' Sadiq Basha, a martial arts trainer who declared openly that he was part of IS, allegedly held meetings at the Anna Salai building to induct more members for IS and to generate funds.
