NIA conducts searches across Tamil Nadu in connection with Ansarulla terror group case

National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted raids at the residence of Muhammad Sheikh Maiden in Narimadu, Madurai in connection with terrorist gang Ansarulla.

The development comes a day after a special NIA Court in Chennai granted the agency eight days custody of all the 16 persons, suspected to be associated with different terrorist organisations.

The NIA alleged that they had come together to form a terror gang called Ansarulla and collected funds and made preparations to carry out attacks in the country, according to ANI news agency.

The gang, which allegedly “conspired and conducted consequent preparations” and collected funds to carry out terrorist attacks in India with the intention of establishing Islamic rule in the country, was busted by the investigating agency on Saturday.

A case was registered on July 9, 2019 (Tamil Nadu Ansarulla Case) against Syed Bukhari, a resident of Chennai (Accused No 1), and Hassan Ali Yunusmaricar (A-2), and Mohammed Yusuffudeen Harish Mohamed (A-3), both of whom are natives of Nagapattinam, in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu and others, the NIA said.

Various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, waging or attempting to wage war against India, and terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been slapped against them.