Coimbatore Police has stepped up security across the city ahead of Diwali after central intelligence agencies issued an alert, reports said on Wednesday.
The alert was issued days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three more accused in the October 2022 car bomb blast in the city. The probe agency has also unearthed the terror financing angle in the case.
The explosion near the Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple in Ukkadam on October 23, 2022 had claimed the life of a 29-year-old youth.
The attack was perpetrated by deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, a self-styled operative of the Islamic State and a suicide bomber.
With the arrest of three more persons last week, the total number of people arrested in the case has gone up to 18. Those arrested were identified as Aboo Hanifa, Saran Mariappan and Pavas Rahman. The agency has so far filed four chargesheets.
Police had earlier arrested Mohammed Talka, the nephew of S. A. Basha, founder of the Al-Umma terror organisation, in connection with the blast. Al-Umma was responsible for the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, targeting then Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.
As many as 58 people were killed while several others injured in the blasts.
In view of the festival rush, city police has beefed up security in key locations like shopping malls, railway stations, airport, schools, colleges, and religious sites, reported IANS. It also claimed that markets in the city have seen brisk business, including at firecracker shops over the past few days.
The intelligence agencies have, meanwhile, issued alerts in the neighbouring districts of the Nilgiris, Erode and Salem.