Massive crackdown: NIA arrests 14 suspects in Tamil Nadu attempting to set up terror groups and plotting 'wage war' against India

In a major crackdown on terror-outfits, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 14 people for their alleged attempts in setting-up a terror outfit 'Asnarulla' in Tamil Nadu. They were handed over by Saudi Arabia to India, officials said on Monday, following which all the 14 accused were produced before Special Judge Senthur Pandian of NIA court in Poonamallee, Chennai. After the hearing, the court has remanded all the accused to agency's custody till July 25.

It is alleged that these people have been collecting money to set-up terror outfit 'Asnarulla' in Tamil Nadu and are believed to have been deported from Saudi Arabia recently, the officials said. 

Earlier on Saturday, the NIA had arrested two persons identified as Hassan Ali and Harish Mohammed in connection with the case. As per NIA, the gang was allegedly conspiring, collecting funds and making preparations to carry out terrorist attacks in India.

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Amid the crackdown, the NIA also carried out searched around the premises belonging to the three local accused at Nagappattinam district in connection with the case. During the searches, the NIA seized nine mobile phones, 15 SIM cards, 7 memory cards, 3 laptops, 5 hard discs, 6 pen drives, 2 tablets and 3 CDs/ DVDs besides documents, including magazines, banners, notices, posters and books among others things from the houses of the accused. 

The accused men had conspired and conducted consequent preparations to wage war against the Government of India by forming the "terrorist gang Ansarulla", the NIA had said in its statement.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Syed Bukhari, a resident of Chennai, and Hassan Ali Yunusmaricar, and Mohammed Yusuffudeen Harish Mohamed, both natives of Nagappattinam, and others, in the case on July 9, under various IPC sections including criminal conspiracy, waging or attempting to wage war against India. Furthermore, the accused have also been slapped with terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

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(With PTI inputs)