Hizbul Mujahideen activist held in Kumily

T'PURAM: The state intelligence wing is on alert against the presence of terrorists in the state in the wake of the arrest from Kumily of a Kashmiri native with suspected links to Hizbul Mujahideen, said Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The incident assumes significance coming, as it did, hardly a week after the arrest of Peoplefs War Group leader Malla Raja Reddy from Angamali.

The police and the Intelligence wing will keep a vigilant eye on tourist centres and migrant labourers in the wake of these incidents. The two incidents strengthen the suspicion that Kerala is becoming a safe hideout for terrorist outfits.

However, all tourists and migrant labourers cannot be put under the shadow of suspicion, of the Minister told reporters here on Sunday.

Thirty-year-old Altaf, who was arrested by the state intelligence wing from Kumily on Saturday, has been working as a salesman for the last eight years. He recently applied for a passport, following which the state police sought information from the Kashmir police and learnt that several terrorist-related cases were pending against Altaf.

A photo identity card belonging to Altaf in the name Mohammed Ahammed Bhat was recovered from him. He also travelled to Kashmir several times. Altaf will be handed over to the Kashmir police on demand, Kodiyeri said.

Kodiyeri also said that steps for collecting information regarding migrant labourers will be taken in association with the Labour Department. The local police will be directed to take steps in this regard under the community policing scheme.

News Source : Samachar