IS module case: NIA conducts raids at 5 locations in Coimbatore
Coimbatore: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches across multiple locations here in connection with its ongoing probe into the IS Kerala-Tamil Nadu module.
The searches were carried out at five locations based on warrants issued by a special NIA court, Ernakulam, the agency said in a release.
"During searches today (Thursday) at the houses of five associates of the accused persons, digital devices, including 1 laptop, 5 mobile phones, 4 SIM cards, 1 memory card and 8 CDs/DVDs, and a large number of incriminating documents have been seized," it said.
The seized digital devices will be subjected to forensic examination, it added.
The suspects were being questioned about their association with the arrested persons and their involvement in the conspiracy aimed at furthering the objectives of the Islamic State (IS), the NIA said.
The agency had registered the case in May this year.
It was registered on the basis of information that some individuals were propagating the IS ideology on social media with an intention to recruit vulnerable youth to the proscribed terror group and carry out attacks in south India, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it said.
According to the NIA, some of the accused and their associates were in touch with Zahran Hashim, the suspected mastermind behind the Sri Lanka Easter blasts, and his accomplices through social media.
In searches carried out in the city earlier, the NIA had arrested two people -- Mohammed Azarudheen and Shiek Hidayathulla.
Earlier, police had said Thursday's raids were conducted at the residences of the suspects in connection with a recent terror alert issued in Tamil Nadu and to ascertain if they had any links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who had infiltrated into the state last week.
Reports had said six LeT terrorists had infiltrated into Tamil Nadu by sea from Sri Lanka and moved to different cities, including Coimbatore.
Security was subsequently beefed up across the state. The vigil, however, has been eased gradually since Monday.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
