Representational AI-image
Palakkad : National Investigation Agency (NIA), as part of an extensive crackdown on a cross-border terror recruitment network suspected of drawing youth toward extremist ideologies, arrested Monirul Islam (54), an Assam native, from his rented residence at Edappalam near Pattambi in Palakkad in an early-morning operation on Tuesday. The case originates from the arrest of 11 people by Assam Police on Dec 28, 2025, from Assam, West Bengal and Tripura. These 11 accused were chargesheeted on June 25, 2026, and remain in judicial custody.
Later, a case was filed Dec 30 against 35 accused for an online radicalisation module operated through “Purva Akash” Telegram group by Bangladesh-based handlers of IMK.
Islam, who moved to Keralam from Assam for employment, was working at a local poultry farm and residing in Edappalam with his family. Following a search at his residence in the early hours of Tuesday, NIA officers took him into custody. He was subsequently produced before Pattambi court for further proceedings.
NIA subsequently took over the case and filed a chargesheet against these 11 accused persons under various sections of the BNS, 2023, and the UA (P) Act, before NIA Special Court in Guwahati, Assam.