A special Police Committee has been appointed to probe if there were individuals linked to the terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sri Lanka, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon said.
Speaking to reporters in Kaduwela, IGP Tennakoon said the special committee consists of officers from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), State Intelligence Service (SIS), and the Special Task Force (STF).
Stating that daily briefings were taking place on the ongoing probe, IGP Tennakoon said instructions were being issued based on new findings and that a comprehensive investigation was underway.
IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon made the remarks responding to questions raised on the arrest of four Sri Lankans in India last week for suspected links to ISIS.
When inquired about media reports claiming that the suspects had links to the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks, IGP Tennakoon said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove the claim.
The IGP revealed that instructions have been issued to the Police to investigate the claims by examining the report by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Attacks.
IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon also assured that there was no need for the public to panic over the recent ISIS-related arrests in India.
The suspects, detained by Indian authorities, are 33-year-old Mohammad Nusrat from Periyamulla, 27-year-old Mohammad Nafran from Grandpass, 35-year-old Mohammad Farish from Maligawatte and 43-year-old Mohammad Rashdeen from Kotahena.
Among them, 27-year-old Mohammad Nafran was identified as the son of Niyas Naufer, also known as ‘Potta Naufer,’ a notorious criminal sentenced to death for the murder of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya in 2004.
The four ISIS suspects were apprehended in Ahmedabad on Monday, following a bomb threat uncovered by local authorities. Indian media reported that the terror activities were reportedly targeting the city’s airport as well as the Narendra Modi Stadium, which was hosting Indian Premier League matches.
The Hindu reported that the arrested Sri Lankans were alleged members of the National Thawheed Jamaath, the organisation accused of carrying out the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)