Kochi: Kerala Police on Saturday took two people into custody after various security agencies sounded high alert across the state and Tamil Nadu over intelligence reports of intrusion of terrorists.
Later, three suspects were detained in Coimbatore, the police said.
The three men, detained in Coimbatore by Tamil Nadu police, are being interrogated at an undisclosed location, the police said, as strict vigil continued in various parts of Tamil Nadu for the second day on Saturday.
One of the arrested has been identified as Abdul Khader Raheem, a native of Madavana near Kodungallur in Kerala's Thrissur district.
The Kerala Police nabbed Raheem while he was trying to surrender before the district court here with the help of a lawyer, Manorama News reported.
A woman, who accompanied Raheem, was also taken into custody. According to reports, the woman, hailing from Sultan Bathery, was arrested and released earlier in connection with an overseas sex racket case.
Police did not answer queries by the media.
His lawyer told a TV channel that Raheem and a woman were picked up by police as they came to the court to move a plea to "prove his innocence" before law enforcement agencies following reports that he had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) members who had reportedly intruded into Tamil Nadu from neighbouring Sri Lanka.
He said the man had told him that his ID proof was misused by someone and he was being trapped in the case.
He is being interrogated by top police officials at a police guest house in the city, sources said.
Raheem, a trader in Bahrain, returned to Kerala two days ago. Raheem was planning to surrender before the court and give his testimony as he has no connection with any terror groups, the TV report said.
The police had been on a manhunt for him and conducted raids at his home lately.
The police have not yet confirmed his role in the case.
Indian Navy sounds alert at seas
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has sounded high-alert at seas and in coastal areas in view of intelligence inputs of suspected Lashkar terrorists entering Tamil Nadu.
"In view of the intelligence inputs, the Indian Navy continues to maintain its high alert situation at seas and in coastal areas," a Defence spokesman told PTI here on Saturday.
Tight security in Tamil Nadu
Security has been tightened across Tamil Nadu following the intelligence inputs. Though the identity or the nationality of the intruders were yet to be ascertained, sources said one person belonged to Pakistan.
Coimbatore Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan had said on Friday that the city was under a high alert following information that the terrorists were heading there.
The Indian Air Force station at Sulur on the city outskirts has been brought under tight security cover.
Officials said security had been beefed up in the state following reports that six members of the terror outfit LeT infiltrated into the state by sea from Sri Lanka and moved to different cities.
Kerala on alert
Kerala DGP Loknath Behera has also directed district police chiefs to keep utmost vigil across the state.
Security has been stepped up at many places, including airports, railway stations, bus stands and places of worship across the state. An alert has been sounded especially in coastal districts to prevent any further possible intrusion, the police said.
The NIA had in June arrested Mohammed Azarudeen, the alleged head of the ISIS Tamil Nadu module who was a Facebook friend of Zahran Hashim, one of the suicide bombers in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in April.
In 1998, Coimbatore was rocked by serial bomb blasts coinciding with the visit of BJP leader L K Advani to the industrial city, leaving 58 people dead and over 200 injured.
