CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested two more Hizb-ut-Tahrir propagators in Tamil Nadu. With the two arrests, the agency has arrested 10 persons linked to HuT so far.

NIA identified the arrested men as Kabeer Ahmed Aliyar and Bava Bahrudeen alias Mannai Bava. Kabeer was arrested in Chennai, and Mannai Bava was picked up from Mannargudi. The two were influenced by the extremist, radical ideology of HuT and conducted secret bayans to canvass gullible youth to establish an Islamic Caliphate.

"They were also involved in organising an exhibition to showcase the military might of Islamic nations that would be invited (Nussrah) to overthrow the Indian government by waging violent jihad and war," said the NIA.

The NIA initiated the crackdown on HuT last year after the city police arrested the six conspirators - Dr Hameed Hussain, Ahmad Mansoor, Abdur Rahman, Mohamed Maurice, Khadar Nawaz Sheriff, and Ahmed Ali - following their anti-India content on social media.

The NIA took over the case for investigation in August. Since then, the agency arrested two more accused - Aziz Ahmed alias Jaleel Aziz Ahmed and TN HuT leader Faizul Rahman. The latest arrest is based on the confession of those already arrested, said NIA sources.

The NIA has already charge-sheeted the six arrested persons and framed them for organising recruitment drive meetings with religious heads to recruit Muslim youth to promote its violent jihadi ideology.