Terrorism concerns prompt intensified NIA searches in coastal Karnataka

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has escalated its surveillance efforts in Dakshina Kannada district, particularly in Mangaluru, following persistent links to the ISIS network.

Over the past four to five years, the region has witnessed several NIA interventions in response to ISIS-related activities, including attacks and recruitment efforts.

Authorities have apprehended more than 15 individuals in connection with these incidents, with several facing charges and undergoing legal proceedings. The NIA’s scrutiny has prompted calls for the establishment of a dedicated unit in Mangaluru to bolster counter-terrorism efforts.

Recent operations have targeted areas associated with alleged ISIS activities, with searches conducted amidst significant resistance and under police security. The coastal region has once again come under scrutiny following the bomb blast at a cafe in Bengaluru, prompting NIA searches in various parts of Dakshina Kannada district, including the recent search at the residence of Naavid in Attavara.

Notable arrests in the region include Amar Abdul Rehman, the grandson of former Ullal MLA Idinabba, accused of ISIS affiliation and youth recruitment. Additionally, Deepti Marla alias Mariam, Amar Abdul Rehman’s wife, was also apprehended on similar charges.

In May 2023, a series of raids were conducted across Puttur, Bantwala, Sajipamuda, Puttur, Kasaragod, and Kunjathur, resulting in multiple arrests linked to a conspiracy to disrupt a function attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar in July 2022.

Furthermore, in response to the murder of BJP leader Praveen Nettaru in July 2022, extensive searches were conducted in Dakshina Kannada district, including Mangaluru, leading to numerous arrests.

In January 2023, an NIA team raided a college on the outskirts of Mangaluru, gathering information related to the Cooker bomb blast near Kankanady in Mangaluru in November 2022, as well as a bomb trial case in Shimoga.