Five held for suspected terror links released; alert in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

Kochi/Coimbatore: All the five people, including a woman, who were detained by Kerala and Tamil Nadu police over suspected terror links amid intelligence warning of a possible terrorist intrusion into Tamil Nadu, were released on Sunday after questioning for 24 hours.

Abdul Khader Raheem, a native of Madavana near Kodungallur in Kerala's Thrissur district, and a woman, who accompanied him, were taken into custody from the Ernakulam district court premises on Saturday.

According to reports, the woman, hailing from Sultan Bathery, was arrested and released earlier in connection with an overseas sex racket case.

Police had not answered any queries by the media while taking the duo into custody. The police still not confirmed their role in the case.

However, his lawyer told a TV channel that Raheem and a woman were picked up by police as they came to the court to move a plea to "prove his innocence" before law enforcement agencies following reports that he had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) members who had reportedly intruded into Tamil Nadu from neighbouring Sri Lanka.

He said the man had told him that his ID proof was misused by someone and he was being trapped in the case.

He was later taken to a police guest house in the city for interrogation by intelligence officers.

Raheem, a trader in Bahrain, returned to Kerala two days ago. Raheem was planning to surrender before the court and give his testimony as he has no connection with any terror groups, a TV report said.

The police had been on a manhunt for him and conducted raids at his home lately.

On Saturday, three men were also detained in Coimbatore by Tamil Nadu police on suspicion of being in touch with Raheem. They were also released after questioning, the police said.

The trio was let off on the condition that they should appear before the police whenever required, they said.

Coimbatore remains under high security alert

Meanwhile, high security alert continued in Coimbatore for the third day on Sunday, with places of worship especially churches being brought under heightened vigil in the wake of intelligence inputs on infiltration of LeT terrorists into Tamil Nadu.

Tight security measures including intensified vehicle and baggage checks continued across the city, where a high alert has been sounded since Friday following information that terrorists have entered the state and were heading here.

The entire state is on alert with sensitive installations in places of large congregation coming under police vigil.

Since the terrorists entered the country by sea from Sri Lanka, the police suspected they may carry out attacks on places of worship, particularly churches, where a large number of faithful gather on Sunday, as was done in the island nation during the Easter holiday.

Security and anti-sabotage checks were carried out in major churches on Saturday night by commando force personnel, with assistance of sniffer dogs, the police said.

A three-tier security was in place at the international airport and over 2,000 police personnel were deployed in malls and places with large public concentrations in the city, they said.

Intel about intrusion of LeT men: Alert sounded in Karnataka

The Coastal Security Police in coastal Malpe in Karnataka has issued a public notice asking people to be on alert in view of intelligence reports about infiltration of six Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists into neighbouring Tamil Nadu, police said on Sunday.

The public notice asked the people of Malpe area in Udupi to be vigilant and inform the police if they come across any suspicious looking persons, they said.

It comes days after Tamil Nadu was put on high alert after intelligence agencies said six Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including a Pakistani, have sneaked into the state from Sri Lanka to carry out destructive activities.

CSP Malpe Police station inspector Pramod Kumar told PTI that based on information from the intelligence, all police stations had been put on alert.

Following the intelligence input, an alert has also been sounded in Kerala, anbother neighouring state of Tamil Nadu.