The Keralam Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has registered a fresh case against a 26-year-old Mohammed Sanoof, a native of Malappuram, over his alleged links with an anti-national group and arrested him following an investigation, according to a report published on September 10.
Mohammed Sanoof, from Aikkarapadi in Malappuram district, was arrested in connection with an investigation into an offensive comment he allegedly posted under a video featuring the daughter of a Pahalgam terror attack 2025 victim in Kochi. Police reportedly stated that the comment justified the terror attack and promoted religious enmity.
Sanoof was earlier detained at Calicut International Airport, Karipur, in July 2026, when he arrived from Saudi Arabia. He has now been formally arrested by the ATS in connection with anti-national conspiracy charges.
Following his earlier detention, initial interrogation and forensic checks of his mobile phone, authorities invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The ATS registered the fresh case after finding digital evidence allegedly linking Sanoof to a secret messaging group conspiring to commit anti-national activities.
He was produced before the Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court and subsequently remanded into ATS custody.
The latest investigation has once again brought attention to links between individuals from Kerala and anti-national and terrorist activities.
Security agencies have previously uncovered links between individuals in Kerala and international terrorist networks involved in major foreign attacks, including the 2015 Paris strikes and the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings.
Central security agencies reportedly believe that some suspects in northern Keralam were in direct digital contact with Zahran Hashim, the mastermind behind the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter Sunday blasts.
The NIA arrested several people in Kerala, including Riyas Aboobacker in Palakkad, who admitted that they followed Hashim’s radical online speeches and planned suicide attacks in Bharat.
The NIA also conducted extensive operations across districts including Kasaragod and Palakkad to trace cross-border digital and ideological ties.
Investigations allegedly showed that some youths from Kerala who travelled to join ISIS used routes through Sri Lanka and Iran. Others interacted with Zahran Hashim’s extremist propaganda and Tamil-language recruitment channels.
There were also reports concerning Keralite Subahani Moideen, who joined ISIS and travelled to conflict zones in Iraq and Syria. Investigators reportedly found that Moideen received weapons training with persons who participated in the 2015 Paris attacks.
