The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday told the Special NIA Court in Kochi that a relative of Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of Indian Mujahiddin, had sent money to the holders of a terror training camp allegedly organised by Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) at Narath in Kannur in April last.
In a charge sheet filed in the court in the case pertaining to the conduct of the camp, the probe agency said that it had got documents to prove that Sanulla, a relative of Bhatkal had sent money into the account of Kamaruddin, 22nd accused in the case. Kamaruddin and two others of the total 22 accused mentioned in the chargesheet were absconding, the agency said.
The NIA also said that the accused had held the camp at Narath as part of preparations for extremist operations. The accused had been charged with unlawful assembly, conspiring to foment communal disharmony, possession of arms and explosives, indulging in weapon practice and conspiracy for extremist operation, etc.
The plot came to light after a Kerala Police team held a raid at the camp in an under-construction building owned by pro-PFI Thanal Charitable Trust at Narath on April 23. The police had taken 21 persons into custody from the camp but Kamaruddin, said to be one of the chief organizers of the camp had managed to escape.
The police had confiscated from the site several weapons, ammunition, bombs, bomb-making materials, a human dummy meant for target-practising, an Iranian identity document, foreign currency notes, mobile SIM cards and several pamphlets and flags of PFI and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India (PFI).
The Kerala Police had held the initial investigations but the probe was handed over to the NIA after factors like extremist connections and possible involvement of foreign funds were recognized. There were also reports that the camp could have had connections with the April blast outside the BJP office in Bangalore.
The NIA chargesheet said that the conspiracy was held under the leadership of first accused Abdul Aziz. According to the agency, about Rs 70 lakh had come into the account of second accused Fahad from abroad in a year’s time. The source of this money was yet to be traced and further investigations were required in this connection, the agency said.
The NIA also said that it was yet to collect detailed information on the possible role of a foreign extremist organization in the conduct of the camp.