The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested one person from Tamil Nadu as a conspirator for his suspected links with Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Shafeek Ahamed (30), a resident of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, was arrested and produced before a special court, which subsequently gave him seven days remand to the NIA.

During the investigation, it has emerged that Ahamed had facilitated procurement of forged passports. The arrests had been made after five people from Kannur, who were believed to have joined IS and left the country to undergo training in Syria, were arrested by the police last year. The Valapattanam police registered a case against them on charges of joining a banned terrorist organisation under Sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.