Kerala government not involved in Maudany case: Achuthanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Sunday told a group of Muslim leaders that his government has nothing to do with the impending arrest of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nazir Maudany, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore bombings.

“Let Maudany get arrested. He should come before the law,” Achuthanandan told around a dozen leaders from four Muslim groups who met him Sunday morning.

He also said that Kerala had no role in the arrest and the Karnataka Police were the ones handling the case. One person was killed and 15 injured in the serial bombings.

Besides the Muslim leaders, former minister and now chief of the state unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Neelohithadasan Nadar was among the group.

The leaders wanted Achuthanandan to intervene and alleged it was a politically motivated case. They also said since the holy month of Ramzan had begun and Maudany was a devout Muslim he should be treated in a “proper manner”.

Later, PDP vice chairman Poonthura Siraj called on Achuthanandan and was given the same message by the chief minister.

Meanwhile, a strong police force is camping outside the PDP headquarters at Anwarassery in Kollam district where the district collector has clamped Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (which bars the gathering of five or more people) in two villages in and around the headquarters.

Around 300 people, including women and children are inside the headquarters.

Party supporters flocked to the area Saturday following speculation that Maudany would be arrested, leading to tension. However, the crowd was dispersed.

Maudany is the 31st accused in the Bangalore bombings.

He and his wife Sufiya have been under the scanner following the arrest of suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative T. Nazeer last year near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. Nazeer is currently in custody of the Bangalore police.

The PDP chief is accused of having links with Nazeer and being in the know of the plot. However, he has vehemently denied the charges. Maudany was earlier jailed after being linked to the 1998 serial bombings in Coimbatore but was acquitted in 2007.

The PDP chief has been trying to secure anticipatory bail. However, a court in Bangalore turned down his plea last month and the Karnataka High Court too rejected his plea last week.

Speculation is rife that Maudany could be arrested Sunday and the police top brass is believed to be in discussion on how to go about the arrest.