NIA Identifies 26 Radical Islamic Clerics In Tamil Nadu, Kerala For Encouraging Jihad Via Mosques

Intelligence and security agencies, working in tandem, have identified over 20 radical Islamic preachers, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who are spreading extremism and motivating the youth to join jihadi causes, reports Hindustan Times.

The agencies are on watching out for all the possible Islamic State modules operating in the southern states, after the Easter bombings that rocked the island of Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an Intelligence Bureau official said that there are 25-26 Islamic preachers regularly instigating the youth against the nation through provocative lectures, hate speeches belittling other religions and encouraging Muslims to demand Sharia law.

The radical clerics are said to be operating from different mosques, preaching centres and offices of various Muslim organisations are trying to generate support for global terror outfits like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. A few terror suspects have also named these preachers as their motivators, during interrogation.

As reported earlier Zahran Bin Hashim, suspected of being the mastermind behind the Sri Lanka attacks, was said to be touch with some radicals in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as part of plans to have a separate Islamic confederation in the region.