Coimbatore Blast: NIA Files Supplementary Chargesheet Against 5; Statement Sheds Light On Role Of Conspirators

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against five persons in connection with the Coimbatore car bomb blast case.

The five have been identified as Umar Faaruq, Firose Khan, Mohamed Thoufeeq, Sheikh Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali.

This comes after the agency had filed a chargesheet against six of the accused on 20 April.

The blast occurred early in the morning, a day before Diwali outside the Kottai Eswaran temple in the Ukkadam area of the city. The car with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (V-IED) consisting of an LPG cylinder, nails and other explosives was driven by Jameesha Mubeen. Mubeen died after emerging from the car.

The statement issued by the NIA states, "The attack was intended to wreak revenge on the Kafirs (non-believers), as stated in one of the self-made confessional videos, made a few days before the intended attack.

"Investigations have further revealed that two accused, Azharudeen and Afsar, had helped Jamesha Mubeen procure, mix and prime the explosives, while Md Talha had provided the car that was used in the crime. Three accused, Ferose, Riyaz and Nawas, had helped Jamesha load the various building blocks of the IED, incuding drums and gas cylinders into the car.

"The conspiracy was hatched in the forest area of Sathyamangalam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, where Umar Faaruq was elected as the Amir (Commander of Army) to lead the execution of the attack. He, in turn, assigned various roles to the other accused persons. The conspirators had planned to use the remaining explosives for a series of terror attacks. Mohammed Thoufeeq was in possession of radical books and a notepad handed over by Jamesha Mubeen containing designs to make IEDs.

"Umar Faaruq and Jamesha Mubeen had also collected funds for the commission of the terror act, while the accused Sanofer Ali had also supported Jamesha Mubeen financially for the same. Firose Khan had abetted the terror attack by providing logistic support.

"The larger aim of the conspiracy was to wage war against the Government of India by targeting its various branches, i.e., general administration, police, judiciary, etc."