The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against Thaha Naseer, another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case. Naseer and his associates are accused of conspiring to wage war against the Indian government and destabilise the country by targeting various branches of administration and causing communal disharmony.
The chargesheet, filed on April 26, names Naseer as the 14th accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This marks the third supplementary chargesheet in the investigation of the explosion that occurred in front of the Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil in Ukkadam, Coimbatore, on October 23, 2022.
The blast, triggered by a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) driven by accused Jamesha Mubeen, aimed to avenge the alleged incarceration of Mohammed Azaruddin, who was arrested in 2019 for propagating ISIS ideology. Naseer was identified as a close associate of Mubeen and Umar Faaruq, the alleged leader of the terror attack.
Umar Faaruq recruited individuals, including Mubeen and Naseer, in a secluded forest area in Erode district, where they received training and were assigned roles for carrying out the blast. Naseer and Mohammed Thoufeek visited Mubeen’s house to plan subsequent terror attacks.
The NIA alleges that the conspiracy had a broader goal of targeting Indian government branches and destabilizing the country by creating communal disharmony. This latest development underscores ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in terrorist activities in India.
