The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested one more Muslim man identified as Mohammed Idris (25) in the Coimbatore temple car blast case.
“Mohammed Idris, a resident of Coimbatore has been arrested for conspiring with other accused persons to commit the terror attack, which took place in front of the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam in Coimbatore on 23rd October 2022,” the NIA said in a press release.
Idris was closely associated with the accused, Jamesha Mujbeen, who was driving the vehicle carrying the IED. Mubeen (29), was killed after the car bomb went off in front of the temple. Idris was part of the secret conspiracy meetings with Mujbeen and other accused persons in the planning of the terror attack.
“NIA investigations have revealed that Jamesha was inspired and motivated by hardcore ISIS ideology and had committed the terror attack after promising bayath or allegiance to the terrorist organisation’s self-proclaimed Caliph, Abu-Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi,” the NIA added.
Earlier this year, on April 20 and June 2, the NIA had filed two separate chargesheets in the case before the NIA Court at Poonamallee, Chennai, against six and five accused, respectively. In the aftermath of the car blast, Coimbatore city police arrested six people: Mohammed Azarudheen, Mohammed Talha, Mohammad Riyas, Firoz Ismail, Mohammad Nawaz Ismail, and Afsar Khan. Meanwhile, the case was transferred to the NIA, which then arrested five more suspects: Mohammed Thoufiq, Umar Farooq, Firoz Khan, Sheik Hidayathullah, and Sanofar Ali.
