WhatsApp ‘terror’ case now with NIA

The radicals were allegedly conspiring to cause communal disharmony besides forming terrorist gangs, raising funds, collecting arms and preparing for commission of terrorist acts. Khaja Moideen, the self-styled chief of Islamic State in Tamil Nadu, was believed to have advised Liyakath Ali, a radical element and a murder suspect from Salem, to create the WhatsApp group. The two had met in Puzhal jail and decided to create the group for terror-linked activities.

The group was formed with ‘martyrdom our goal’ as its motto. It sought to work for the release of Muslim fundamentalists lodged in Tamil Nadu besides eliminating Hindu leaders, sources said. Other suspects include M Mohamed Rifas, a Sri Lankan, U Mufaris Ahmed and J Abubakar Sidiq of Devipattinam. The group had earlier met at least twice clandestinely before police became aware of its activities.

The case was initially registered at Keelakarai police station in Ramanathapuram in April 2018 against 10 people and nine of them were arrested. As the case was also booked under the UAPA, the NIA was monitoring it. The agency found the local police have not taken the case to its logical end and has taken over the probe. “Though NIA has registered a case, the case files are yet to be handed over to the agency. It will be done only after getting the State’s approval,” a senior State official said.