terrorists in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore on alert, vehicle-baggage checks, police check
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Commando force and police personnel check at a railway station in Coimbatore. Photo; PTI.

3 detained in Coimbatore, 1 in Kochi for suspected terror links


Police have detained three people for interrogation at Coimbatore on Saturday (August 24) in connection with the reported intrusion of six members of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba into Tamil Nadu.

The three were taken into custody on suspicion that they were in touch with them and are being interrogated at an undisclosed place, police sources said.

Meanwhile, in Kerala’s Kochi, a man suspected to have links with terror outfits was taken into custody by police from the premises of a court on Saturday, sources said.

His lawyer told a channel that the man from Kodungallur in Thrissur district, who returned from Bahrain two days ago, 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 members who had reportedly intruded into Tamil Nadu from neighbouring Sri Lanka.

The lawyer said the man approached the court through him on Saturday morning, claiming that he had “no involvement” with the reported infiltration of terrorists into the country. He said the man had told him that his ID proof was misused by someone and he was being trapped in the case.

Also read: Kerala, Tamil Nadu on high alert after intel on terrorist movement

He is being interrogated by top police officials at a police guest house in the city, sources said.

Strict vigilance continued in various parts of Coimbatore district for the second day on Saturday following intelligence inputs that six LeT members had infiltrated the state by sea from Sri Lanka and moved to different cities.

Coimbatore Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan had said on Friday (August 23) that the city was under a high alert following information that the terrorists were heading there. Police said on Saturday that vehicle-checks were intensified on arterial roads and highways connecting Coimbatore city with neighbouring states, and baggage thoroughly checked by armed police personnel.

Similarly, checks were on in railway stations, bus-stands and the airport, they said. The Tamil Nadu commando force carried out a flag march at Mettupalayam, about 35 km from Coimbatore, to instill confidence in people about security.

Armed forces were deployed at temples, mosques and churches, which were normally targeted by terrorists as was done in Sri Lanka recently, police sources said. Kerala DGP Loknath Behera had on Friday also directed district police chiefs to keep utmost vigil across the state.

Following intelligence inputs, “The Indian Navy continues to maintain its high alert situation at seas and in coastal areas,” a defence spokesman told PTI at Kochi in Kerala.

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