However, they were not sure who bought and supplied these country-made guns and factory manufactured bullets to these terror suspects headed by Khaja Moideen.

That is where arresting Shihabudeen on Wednesday might help the NIA. He was arrested for providing fire arm to two suspects – Abdul Shammem and Thofeeq – who allegedly killed SSI Wilson a year ago in Kanniyakumari.

According to NIA sources, Shihabudeen, a native of Coimbatore who was living in Chennai, seems to be the key person who had been procuring and providing guns for the IS men in the State. “We will take him in our custody for a detailed interrogation to know his network and from where he procured the guns and ammunition,” said an official.

Apart from fraudulently procuring a large number of SIM cards to allegedly use it for their terrorist activities, the members of the IS module also procured country-made fire arms and prohibited ammunition besides jungle camping equipment. This was part of their intention to establish a wilayah (province) of IS in forests in South India, with a view to wage violent jihad on behalf of the global terrorist organisation, claimed the NIA.