Chennai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the October 23 Coimbatore car blast case in which a 29-year-old youth was charred to death, is likely to arrest more people involved in the conspiracy.
The police had arrested six people immediately after the car blast at Coimbatore in which 29-year-old Islamic terrorist, Jameesha Mubin died in the Diwali eve blast.
Those arrested are Mohammed Azharudheen (23), Afsar Khan (27), Mohammed Nawaz Ismail (24), Firoz Ismail (27), Mohammed Riyas (27), and Mohammed Talha (25). Of this, Mohammed Talha is the nephew of S.A. Basha, founder leader of Al Umma and a convict in the 1998 Coimbatore blast case.
After taking over the investigation, the premier investigation agency arrested, Mohammed Thoufeek (25) of Podannur in Coimbatore district, Umar Farook (39) of Coonor in The Nilgiris, and Feroze Khan (28) of South Ukkadam.
The NIA then arrested two more persons on December 28, Sanofar Ali and Sheikh Hidayathullah. The agency has found out that the accused had conducted several meetings before executing the plan on October 23.
Sources in the NIA told IANS that more arrests are likely to happen and interrogation of the arrested was taking place in Chennai.
Earlier, the arrested individuals have been identified as Y. Sheikh Hidayatullah and A. Sanofar Ali -- both from Coimbatore.
The NIA in a statement said that the two had conspired along with the deceased Jameesha Mubin and Mohammed Azharuddin (an accused who is currently in jail, and had prepared to execute the terror plot.
A total of 11 people have been arrested so far in connection with the case including the two held on Wednesday.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)