NIA TAKES OVER PROBE INTO TAMIL NADU BLAST, 6TH ACCUSED HELD

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday took over the probe into October 23 Coimbatore blast, in which one person was killed, as Tamil Nadu police made its sixth arrest in the case.

The ministry of home affairs issued a notification for a NIA probe following a recommendation by chief minister MK Stalin, amid concerns that the incident may have ramifications beyond the boundaries, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jameesha Mubin, who was questioned by NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links, was charred to death in suspicious circumstances after the LPG cylinder inside a vehicle he was driving exploded near Kottai Eswaran temple in Ukkadam around 4am on Sunday morning.

The state police invoked the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.

A deputy inspector general rank NIA officer has been sent to Tamil Nadu to probe the case, a senior officer said. “We will examine our old interrogation reports pertaining to Islamic State cases to find out about the known contacts and associates, both in India and abroad, of Mubin and other accused persons,” the officer said.

Tamil Nadu DGP Sylendra Babu said the sixth arrest was made on Thursday.