CHENNAI/COIMBATORE: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which carried out simultaneous searches in 31 places in Tamil Nadu and Telangana on Saturday, said Islamic regional study centres were used to radicalise gullible youth in the name of Arabic classes."The radicalisation activities were flashed online through social media platforms and mobile applications like WhatsApp and Telegram," said the anti-terror agency.In an official statement, the NIA said its sleuths seized currencies to the tune of Rs 60 lakh and US$18,200 and incriminating books in vernacular and Arabic languages.

"We are examining the mobile phones, laptops and hard discs seized during the raids," it said.

The NIA said the blast incident in Coimbatore in October last year was a fallout of such radicalisation sessions.

"ISIS-inspired agent provocateurs were engaged in propagation of Khilafat ideology, which is inimical to India’s constitutionally established principles of secularism and democracy.

They conspired to radicalise and recruit youth to indulge them in terrorist as well as unlawful acts and activities," said the NIA.

Jamesha Mubeen, who drove a bomb-laden car and died in the blast in Coimbatore last year, had studied in the Kovai Arabic College at Kuniyamuthur a few years before his death, said sources.

Around 25 people were Mubeen's college mates.

Based on the evidence it gathered from the Arabic college in Coimbatore last month, NIA’s Chennai unit recently registered a case against the radicalisation and recruitment for ISIS.

On Saturday, the searches were carried out in 22 places in Coimbatore, three places in Chennai, one place in Tenkasi and five places in Hyderabad.The residence of DMK councillor M Mubaseera of 82nd ward of Coimbatore Corporation was also subjected to the searches.

In Chennai, the searches were carried out in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ayanavaram and Neelankarai.