Kerala ATS books Malappuram man under UAPA over alleged anti-national links
Kerala ATS has registered a fresh UAPA case against Muhammed Sanoof of Malappuram and five others over alleged anti-national links and a Signal group conspiracy.
The Kerala Anti-Terrorism Squad has registered a fresh case and arrested a Malappuram native over his alleged links with an anti-national group, following an investigation into an offensive comment he is accused of posting under a video featuring the daughter of a victim of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Muhammed Sanoof, 26, a resident of Aikkarappadi in Malappuram district, was detained in July this year when he arrived at Karipur airport while returning from Saudi Arabia.
Last year, the Muttam police in Idukki district registered a case against him over the alleged comment, which appeared under a video featuring the daughter of N Ramachandran, a Kochi native killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. The police subsequently invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against him.
According to police sources, the ATS registered the fresh case after evidence surfaced during the Idukki police investigation. An examination of Sanoof's mobile phone allegedly revealed his links with anti-national groups, and the probe found that he was part of a Signal messaging group allegedly involved in conspiring to carry out anti-national activities across India.
Based on this evidence, the ATS registered a case last month against Sanoof and other members of the group. The other accused named in the case are Azhari Kuraishi, Faizan Mohammed, Shaheer, Shoeb Ammed and Ibn Ahamed. Efforts are on to identify and trace the remaining accused, who are suspected to be from different parts of the country.
The case has been registered under Sections 148 and 149 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 18 and 18B of the UAPA. Sanoof was arrested in the second case and produced before the Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court on Wednesday. Additional District and Sessions Judge Suresh Babu VPM remanded him in ATS custody till September 18.
The ATS has informed the National Investigation Agency about the case and is investigating whether the group was involved in any terrorist activities in the country.