Tamil Nadu police has arrested three men, two of them Hindus who converted to Islam, at Devipattinam near Ramanathapuram. A fourth person, who police suspect transferred cash to Wilson’s killers, escaped the police net.
The three arrested, Mohammad Ameer alias Arunkumar, 31, a native of Villupuram, Mohammad Ali alias Manikandan 28, a native of Cuddalore, and Pitchai Kani alias Pura Kani, 45, a native of Keezhakarai , were remanded in prison by a magistrate court at Devipattinam.
Ramanathapuram police superintendent of police R V Varunkumar said, “We had a tip-off about the trio moving from hideout to hideout in the district. Police tracked their movements and apprehended them.”
Investigators say Kani indoctrinated and converted Manikandan and Arunkumar to Islam three or four years ago. Later, police said, they were radicalised by the man who escaped, Shaik Dawood. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Dawood in 2018 on charging of converting and radicalising youngsters from poor backgrounds. He came out on bail and went underground and was involved in funding radical elements, police said.
Wednesday’s police operation was led by deputy superintendent of police Velladurai, and special branch sub-inspectors Dhebakar, Senthilkumar and Jesudoss. Officers refused to divulge details of the three suspects activities, which appeared to centred around funding radicals.
TN police arrests 3 IS suspects from Ramanathapuram
