Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi/New Delhi
Kochi/New Delhi, Sep 29: The Ernakulam Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday sentenced two accused, H. Mohammed Azarudheen and Y. Sheikh Hidayathullah, to eight years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in connection with the ISIS Kerala-Tamil Nadu terror case.
Both were found guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act). They received concurrent sentences of eight years RI under section 120B combined with sections 38 and 39 of the UA(P) Act, as well as separate eight-year sentences under sections 38 and 39.
The case centers on the duo’s involvement in spreading the extremist ideology of the terrorist group ISIS/Daish. Their conspiracy focused on recruiting vulnerable youth in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to carry out terrorist attacks.
The NIA had initiated the case suo motu in 2019 against six individuals from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Notably, Azarudheen and Hidayathullah were also separately charge-sheeted in the 2022 Coimbatore car bomb blast. The attack, executed by their associate Jameesha Mubin, involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VB-IED) detonated near an ancient temple.
The bombing was reportedly retaliation for the arrest and prolonged detention of Azarudheen by the NIA in 2019. Before his arrest, Azarudheen had radicalized Jameesha and others through clandestine religious classes promoting ISIS ideology.
Hidayathullah, who was out on bail during the investigation, further groomed Jameesha and facilitated the bombing, which resulted in the suicide bomber’s death. Azarudheen continued to direct Jameesha during prison visits.
The investigation into the remaining accused in the case is still underway.