NIA takes terror-suspect, woman accomplice into custody from two districts of Andhra Pradesh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials took a man named Kothwal Noor Mohammad (40), suspected of having links with terrorist groups in Pakistan, into custody in Dharmavaram town of Sri Sathya Sai district in the early hours of Saturday (August 16, 2025.)

According to information, Mohammad settled in Dharmavaram town about 15 years ago and started eking out a livelihood by working in local hotels. Currently, he is working at a tea stall located at Market Street. The NIA sleuths, along with a team of local police of Dharmavaram, swooped at his residence at the local Kota Street in the early hours and took Mohammad into custody.

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As per sources in the police, the Central agencies had detected the frequent communication between Mohammad and suspected Pakistani terrorist outfits through some social media platforms. He was immediately whisked away in a police vehicle, which left for Chennai. The raid party had reportedly confiscated some incriminating material from the rented portion of his house and seized it.

Simultaneously, an NIA team escorted by the local police, took a woman (35) into custody from her residence in Tadipatri town of neighbouring Anantapur district in the early hours. The investigation team found that Mohammad was frequently in touch with the woman, and the nature of the communication between the duo is found to be suspicious.

Meanwhile, a police officer in Puttaparthi confirmed that Mohammad, who is presently residing at a rented portion, recently purchased land in Dharmavaram town and started constructing a house with luxurious features. The Voter-ID issued to Mohammad said his father’s name is Kothwal Ameer.

A circle-inspector, who extended local logistics to the NIA team, said that except for minor details of Mohammad, such as his nature, vocation and his residence, there is no information pertaining to his background, such as to which place he belonged to or whether he is married or not. However, the tea stall owner and the neighbourhood had informed the police that the suspect was generally mild mannered, but the act of sudden purchase of a big property came under public and police scanner as well.