NIA seizes 7.5 kg sodium nitrate, detains 4 men including two students

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted simultaneous raids at several places in the city on Monday in connection with the alleged antinational activities by the members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) organisation.

According to the sources, the NIA sleuths have taken four men into custody after they recovered 7.5 kilograms of sodium nitrate from a residence in Byadarahalli in Bengaluru.

It is said that sodium nitrate is one of the chemicals used in explosives. The four men detained were identified as Samiulla, Misbah, Muniruddin and Altaf.

The police said Samiulla was pursuing LLB while Muniruddin was an engineering student at a private college in Bengaluru.

Another man from Ballari district was also taken into custody, the sources added.

On December 9, the NIA had arrested Ali Abbas from Pulikeshinagar in Bengaluru and seized his mobile, laptop and several documents for verification. The NIA is yet to make an official statement in this regard.