Three men with suspected links to the ISIS, who had been arrested in Ramanathapuram, were allegedly involved in spreading 'jihadi' ideology and plotting to kill those opposed to Islamic beliefs to spread fear among the public, police said. The case has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The trio—B. Mohammed Ali, 'Pura' Gani and Amir—was held in the Devipattinam police station limits following a tip-off when they tried to flee on Wednesday, police said. One man, identified as Sheikh Dawood, however, managed to escape.
They allegedly had links to the ISIS and were connected to cases being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), police said.
They were allegedly involved in spreading 'jihadi' ideology in Ramanathapuram district, police said adding the trio also indulged in acts against national integration.
Also, they were allegedly involved in efforts to recruit people to ISIS and raising funds for the banned terror outfit.
They were discussing matters including transferring money to Abdul Shamim, one of the accused in the recent killing of Wilson, a police officer, at Kaliakavali in Kanyakumari district near the Kerala border.
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Police seized books and Islamic propaganda material from the trio. They also had in their possession propaganda materials in "audio form" meant to be uploaded on social networking platforms including WhatsApp.
The trio were accomplices of Mohammed Riaz and Sheikh Dawood, who have already been booked by the NIA.
Police also seized books from them, including one titled Democracy is system of Kufr, and Islamic propaganda material.
Police said they registered cases against them under various IPC Sections including 153 A and B and provisions of Information Technology Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.