Embassies were also on their radar.
National Investigation Agency (NIA), the top-most counter-terrorism agency of the government of India, on Monday, arrested three suspected Al-Qaeda operatives from different parts of Madurai, Tamil Nadu after conducting raids. The arrested were identified as M Khareem, Asif Sultan Mohammed and Abbas Ali.
Press Trust of India reported that the arrested had allegedly planned to kill 22 top leaders of the country and their hit list included Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are also suspected to have threatened to attack the embassies of different countries in India.
NIA has been tracking the movement of the operatives for some time as they got information of terrorists operating from Madurai and its surrounding areas. After getting specific information about their location, the team conducted raids at various locations across the city. According to the police, Khareem was arrested from Usman Nagar, Asif Sultan Mohammed was picked up from G R Nagar and Abbas Ali from Ismailpuram.
The arrested has been leading the militant outfit in South Tamil Nadu said the officers. Officials confirmed that the arrested had explosives with them. “Explosive materials and arms have been seized from them,” an officer was quoted as saying by PTI.
The terrorists are accused in the cases relating to the blasts that occurred on the premises of courts in Malappuram, Kollam, Nellur, Mysore and Chittur. NIA has initiated a manhunt for nabbing Tamil Nadu natives Hakeem, Dawood, and Sulaiman who are on the run.