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Coimbatore car blast case: Tamil Nadu to recommend transfer of probe to NIA

Tamil Nadu decides to set up special force to prevent terror attacks, have more surveillance cameras in Chennai and Coimbatore.

ByShilpa Nair

Published Oct 26, 2022 | 4:33 PM ⚊UpdatedOct 26, 2022 | 4:33 PM

Chief Minister MK Stalin held a high-level meeting in Chennai and decided to hand over investigation in the Coimbatore blast case to the NIA. (Supplied)

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday, 26 October, decided to recommend the transfer of investigation into the Coimbatore car blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The decision to transfer the probe to the central agency was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin earlier in the day over the incident where 29-year-old Jameesha Mubin was killed after an LPG cylinder inside his car exploded near Kottai Eswaran temple in Coimbatore on 23 October.

Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, the CM’s Principal Secretary Udhayachandran, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendrababu, State Intelligence Chief Davidson Devasirvatham, and Home Secretary Phanindra Reddy were present in the review meeting.

Suspected terror plot

It may be noted that the Coimbatore police on Tuesday invoked the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), among other sections of the law, in connection with the case after it emerged that the explosion was most likely a fallout of a suspected terror plot.

Police personnel at the scene of the blast in Coimbatore. (Supplied)

The deceased Mubin had stored 75 kg of low intensity explosive materials such as Potassium Nitrate, Aluminium powder, charcoal, Sulphur etc at his residence. Marbles, nails and other materials were also recovered from the gutted car.

Mubin came on the NIA radar in 2019 after the Easter bomb attacks in Sri Lanka for allegedly being in touch with those accused in the terror case. Senior officials told South First that Mubin was radicalised and was inspired by the ISIS modules.

On Monday night, the Coimbatore police arrested five alleged associates of Mubin for helping him to transport the LPG cylinders and other explosives and for providing him the Maruti 800 car.

Related: How Jameesha Mubin came on the NIA’s radar

More measures to step up security

A press statement issued by the Tamil Nadu government after the high-level meeting held by CM Stalin said that the decision to transfer the probe in the Coimbatore car blast case to the NIA was taken keeping in mind its possible national and international ramifications.

It was also decided in the meeting to set up a special force under the Tamil Nadu police to prevent such incidents in the future.

Additionally, the government said modern surveillance cameras would be set up in big cities like Chennai and Coimbatore and in other densely populated areas.

Further, in order to strengthen the intelligence system in the state, the government has decided to appoint more officers to the department. Security would also be provided to those who give inputs about people indulging in anti-social activities.

For better surveillance, it was resolved in the meeting to set up three new police stations in Karumbu Kadai, Koundampalayam, and Sundarapuram areas in Coimbatore district.