NIA arrests 3 more in ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case

New Delhi [India], October 22 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three more accused in the October 2022 ISIS-inspired car bomb blast case in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. With the arrest of the three, the total number of arrested accused in the case has gone up to 18.

“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested three more accused in the October 2022 ISIS-inspired car bomb blast case of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu,” as per an official release.

With the arrest of Aboo Hanifa, Saran Mariappan and Pavas Rahman, NIA has unearthed the terror financing angle in the case, in which the total number of accused arrested has gone up to 18 and four chargesheets have been so far filed against 14 accused before the NIA Court at Poonamallee, Chennai, NIA stated in the release.

“The case RC-01/2022/NIA/CHE relates to a Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED) explosion near the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam, Coimbatore, on 23rd October 2022,” NIA said in the release

The terror attack was perpetrated by deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, a self-styled ISIS operative and suicide bomber, as an act of revenge against Kafirs or non-believers of Islam, NIA said in the release.

“NIA investigations have revealed that the three accused arrested today had colluded with one other to provide funds for the commission of the terror act. Aboo Hanifa was employed as a faculty in Kovai Arabic College, where Jamesha Mubeen and other arrested accused persons got radicalized in ISIS ideology,” the agency stated in the release.

Prior to carrying out the Coimbatore terror attack, Jamesha Mubeen, had sworn allegiance by giving “bayath” to Abu-Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi, the then self-styled Calipha of ISIS, as per the NIA.

“An offshoot case registered with respect to the radicalization had separately led to the arrest and chargesheeting of four accused by NIA,” NIA stated in the release.

Further investigations are continuing in the case.