Narath arms training case: NIA arrests another former PFI leader

Kochi, Oct 11: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kochi unit, has arrested a former Popular Front of India (PFI) leader wanted in connection with the Narath arms training case in Kannur. The arrested was Azharudheen K.T., alias Azhar, 24, a native of Narath, Kannur.

Officials said Azharudheen was arrested from his native place on Monday night following a tip-off. He was later produced in the NIA special court in Kochi, which remanded him to judicial custody till November 9. The NIA will soon be a filing a petition seeking his custody.

According to the NIA, Azharudheen, former president of the PFI’s Narath unit, along with the third and 22nd accused in the case, organised the training camp in Narath on April 23, 2013. He was guarding the building inside when the training had taken place and fled the spot on seeing the police. Though an arrest warrant was issued, Azharudheen had kept shifting his location to evade arrest.

As per the case, the members of the camp were given training in handling weapons and bomb making.

The NIA court has already sentenced 21 accused in the case to jail while acquitting one. The accused were found guilty under Sections 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy), 143 and 149 (Unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 153 (B) (1) (C) (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) of the IPC, Section 5 (1) (a) of the Arms Act and under Sections 18 and 18 A of the UAPA.