Suspected NTJ intelligence member detained for 72 hours

A suspected member of the proscribed National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) movement was detained by Keselwatta Police in Colombo for 72 hours for further questioning in a bid to ascertain whether he has any link with the banned outfit.

On information provided by the public, the Western Province Intelligence Division of the police had arrested the suspect, Mohamed Farook Mohamed Fawaz, at Keselwatta.

Following the arrest, the police had recovered some literature and visuals of the vehicles alleged to have been used in the Easter Sunday mission.

The police told Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that the suspect was an expert in handling electronic devices and that he could have been used by the terrorist movement when making explosive devices.

When questioned by the magistrate, the suspect said he was a resident of Keselwatta for the past nine years.(T. Farook Thajudeen)