Chennai/New Delhi, Jun 12 (IANS): The NIA on Wednesday searched seven places in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu including the residence of a social media friend of the Sri Lankan terrorist who masterminded the April suicide bombings in the island nation.

The searches are part of a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into a new Islamic State module in India, officials said.

An NIA official in New Delhi told IANS that the case was registered 10-12 days ago.

He added that one of the persons whose premises were searched was Mohammad Azharuddin, who was a Facebook friend of the mastermind of the Easter bombings that killed over 250 people in Sri Lanka.

The suicide attack was blamed by Colombo on a Sri Lankan Islamist group although the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Last month, the NIA searched 10 places in Tamil Nadu in connection with the investigation into the Islamic State module where some people allegedly conspired to raise funds and wage war against the State.

NIA officials have visited Sri Lanka this month in connection with their investigation.