In a shocking revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released a detailed charge sheet regarding the October 2022 Coimbatore blast. The document exposes the sinister plot orchestrated by Jameesha Mubeen, along with his cousins Mohammad Asarutheen and Afsar Khan, who purchased a staggering 190 kg of explosive materials from various sources. Their intention was to construct a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) for the devastating attack. According to the NIA charge sheet, Mubeen and his relatives meticulously procured raw materials for the IED starting in March of the preceding year. The purchases were made in small quantities through both e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart, as well as local dealers.
Potassium nitrate and sulphur, amounting to 134 kg and 56 kg respectively, were obtained, along with charcoal, aluminium powder, matchboxes, and benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal. The investigation further revealed that Asarutheen and Afsar Khan were responsible for weighing, mixing, and packing the chemical constituents used in manufacturing the vehicle-borne IED. The charge sheet also mentioned the recovery of handwritten notes from Mubeen’s residence, which outlined his critical views on the democratic system and potential targets, including government buildings, district courts, parks, and railway stations. The Coimbatore blast occurred on October 23, 2022, outside the Kottai Eswaran Temple, claiming Mubeen’s life in the process.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was a retaliatory act to uphold their religious “honour. “In the aftermath of the incident, several accused individuals employed a military-grade data shredder called “iShredder” to permanently delete sensitive information from their devices. Furthermore, the NIA has been actively investigating and arresting individuals associated with IS-inspired terror attacks, conspiracy, and funding. To date, around 175 arrests have been made in nearly 40 cases, with over 32 charge sheets filed relating to IS activities. As the NIA continues its efforts to dismantle IS modules, the agency has compiled a comprehensive databank containing detailed analyses of handlers, funding sources, modus operandi, countries visited, and influential ideologues involved in these nefarious activities.