Terror suspect Mohammed Niaz, from Melur in Madurai district, who was arrested earlier in May in Paris for his alleged links with the extremist group in Iran, ‘Jundallah’ (soldiers of God), is a relative of a former senior intelligence officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, Mr Mohammed Qasim. The officer retired in 1994 as deputy inspector-general of police (intelligence).
Mr Qasim had lost touch with his extended family years ago. “I last saw Niaz as a young boy and had not kept in touch with him ever since,” he said.
Another senior intelligence officer said, “Niaz is an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, where he did his post-graduation between 2001-03. Prior to that, he studied at Mohammed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai”.
Niaz’s arrest for alleged terrorist links has shocked the intelligence agencies and the Tamil Nadu police as he was not known to be involved in any illegal activity in Karnataka. “There’s nothing against him in the country, which is why the French government has not sought any information about him from us. He is allegedly linked with Jundallah, which has no presence in India. Probably, he deliberately maintained a clean profile here to stay clear of the police.