Searches conducted at houses of ‘caliphate movement sympathisers’ in Thanjavur

Special Intelligence Unit personnel conducted a search at the houses of six persons, who are allegedly ‘sympathisers’ of a global movement to establish an Islamic State and Caliphate (khilafah), in Thanjavur on Tuesday (September 29, 2026).Inquiries reportedly revealed that the six persons were actively involved in the activities of the movement named “Hizb-ut-Tahrir’ (HuT), whose aim, according to the police, was to establish a global Islamic State and Caliphate, including in India, by overthrowing democratically elected governments “through jihad and terrorist activities involving citizens.”As the movement’s intention was a grave threat to the democratic setup and internal security, since HuT promotes radicalisation and motivate gullible youth to join terrorist organisations such as ISIS and raise funds for terror activities, the Ministry of Home Affairs had declared HuT a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2024, the police said.The searches were conducted by a team of SIU personnel led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur, Charles after obtaining search orders from the Court, sources said. Published - September 29, 2026 03:01 pm IST