The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested four more individuals in connection with the Tamil Nadu radicalisation and recruitment case, which stems from the Coimbatore car bomb blast investigation. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to eight, according to an official statement.
4 More Accused Arrested by NIA in TN Radicalisation and Recruitment Case Involving Kovai Arabic College pic.twitter.com/fEkSZFAKQe
— NIA India (@NIA_India) June 18, 2025
The newly arrested individuals have been identified as Ahmed Ali, Jawahar Sathik, Raja Abdullah (also known as MAC Raja), and Sheik Dawood. The NIA reports that the four were radicalised by Jameel Basha, founder of the Madras Arabic College. Basha and his associates allegedly used Arabic language classes as a front to indoctrinate vulnerable youth with Salafi-Jihadi ideology across Tamil Nadu.
The NIA had earlier arrested Jameel Basha along with his associates—Irshath, Syed Abdur Rahman, and Mohammed Hussain—for using both classroom settings and online platforms to conduct anti-national radicalisation and recruitment operations.
According to NIA findings, the group actively propagated Khilafat ideology and glorified martyrdom through jihad, promoting violence and armed rebellion to overthrow the democratically elected government and establish an Islamic state. Their radicalisation network was directly linked to the October 2022 Coimbatore car bomb blast, where suicide bomber Jamesha Mubeen carried out a vehicle-borne IED attack outside a historic temple in the city. The NIA continues its investigation into the Tamil Nadu ISIS Radicalisation and Recruitment case as part of broader efforts to counter extremist threats and safeguard national security.
Coimbatore Blast Case: Islamic state-inspired suicide attack foiled by accident
On October 23, 2022, Coimbatore—a major industrial hub in Tamil Nadu—was jolted by a car explosion that has since been confirmed as a failed terrorist attack. CCTV footage from the previous night, October 22, captured Jamesha Mubin, an engineering graduate, loading what appeared to be a large object wrapped in a white bag—later identified as an LPG cylinder—into his Maruti 800. The footage, recorded around 11:25 pm, also shows Mubin accompanied by three others: Mohammad Riyaz, Feroz Ismail, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail.
At around 4:00 am, the vehicle exploded in the Ukkadam area, close to the historic Kottai Easwaran Temple. In response, police and forensic teams rushed to the scene, and six special investigation teams were formed to probe the incident. ADGP P. Thamarai Kannan conducted an on-site review of the situation.
Initial assessments suggested the blast might have been a mere accident involving an LPG cylinder. One of the two commercial cylinders in the car had exploded, while the other remained intact. The charred remains of Mubin’s body were found in an unrecognisable state.
However, suspicions grew quickly—especially from figures like BJP leader K. Annamalai—who questioned the narrative of a simple accident. As the investigation progressed, authorities confirmed it was a terror plot. Mubin, reportedly radicalised and influenced by Islamic State ideology, had been preparing for jihad and planned a suicide bombing targeting a religious site.
According to officials, Mubin intended to detonate the explosives near the temple to cause mass casualties and destruction. Fortunately, due to his lack of formal bomb-making training—having learned about explosives through online sources—the plan backfired, resulting in his own death and averting a much larger tragedy. What was initially dismissed as an accidental gas cylinder blast was ultimately revealed to be a botched Islamist terror attack, underscoring the growing risk of self-radicalised individuals operating under the radar.
NIA Reveals Radicalisation Network Behind ISIS-Inspired Attack
Investigations into the October 2022 Coimbatore car blast have uncovered disturbing details of a well-structured radicalisation and recruitment network operating under the guise of religious education. Handwritten notes recovered from the residence of Jamesha Mubeen—the suicide bomber who died in the blast—revealed references to Muslims being treated as “second-class citizens,” as well as mentions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Karnataka hijab controversy, and a flowchart containing names of deities from various religions. So far, 18 individuals linked to the terror plot have been arrested.
Arabic College Used as Hub for Radicalisation
The National Investigation Agency last year filed a chargesheet against four key individuals: Jameel Basha, Mohammed Hussain, Irshath, and Syed Abdur Rahman. These men have been accused of radicalising young Muslims and recruiting them into the Islamic State (ISIS). They face charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The NIA linked these individuals to the larger conspiracy behind the Coimbatore blast, which took place outside an ancient temple and was initially mistaken for an LPG accident. According to the agency, most of those arrested had been actively involved in indoctrinating vulnerable youth and preparing them for acts of terror under the ISIS banner.
Central to this radicalisation effort was Madras Arabic College, later renamed Kovai Arabic College, located in Coimbatore. Jameel Basha served as the ideological mentor and guided former students to establish similar Arabic language centres at the district level. The Coimbatore centre was set up by accused Mohammed Hussain and Irshath.
At these centres, students were subjected to extremist teachings. The NIA revealed that live or recorded speeches of Jameel Basha were played regularly to promote a jihadist worldview. Social media was also used extensively to spread Salafi-Jihadi content and draw young minds into the orbit of violent extremism.
Direct Link to ISIS and Coimbatore Blast
Jamesha Mubeen, who died in the explosion, was one such radicalised youth. The NIA confirmed that he was indoctrinated by Syed Abdur Rahman and had pledged allegiance to ISIS’s ideology, specifically to Darul-e-Islam. His failed suicide attack was part of a broader anti-India campaign endorsed by the terrorist organisation. The agency emphasized that the IED blast near the temple was not an isolated incident but a direct outcome of long-term religious radicalisation and terror recruitment conducted under the radar, using educational and religious platforms as cover.
The case highlights the urgent need to monitor such fronts used for indoctrination and disrupt radical networks before they can execute their violent agendas.
