Police buy time for Madhani arrest drama

August 11, 2010


Madhani's arrest may be delayed

Bangalore: Police in Kerala wants the arrest of Abdul Nasser Madhani to happen only after August 15. According sources police is buying time for cooperating with the arrest of PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madhani who has been listed as an accused in the Bangalore blasts case citing visit of President Prathibha Patil and the security needed for Indipendence Day celebrations.

Meanwhile sources in Karnataka police said top level officials from Bangalore are likely to arrive in Kerala to facilitate the arrest.

Alok Kumar who heads the investigation into Bangalore bomb blasts and DCP Omkarayya are on their way to Kerala.

A team of police officials including Bangalore Central crime branch inspector N.H.Sidhappa, constables Srinivasa Babu and Murthy Naik who reached Kerala yesterday are camping at Kollam.

Karnataka home minister B.S. Acharya said the timing of the arrest will be based on perception by investigating officials.

The tense situation prevailing at Anwarassery were a large number of supporters of Madhani have assembled and the police report about possibility of law and order problems in the event of arrest if forcing the team for a wait and watch approach. According to police sources they are unable to maintain a large police force at Anwarasserry because of the visit of the President.

Kerala DGP Jacob Punnoose had said that Kerala police will extend all help to police team from Karnataka to arrest Madhani. Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the arrest of Madhani will take place at the approppriate time and that the Kerala police will extend full co-operation for Karnataka counter part. "Deployment of huge police force in Anwarassery is not possible because of the scheduled visit of President. This has been conveyed to Karnataka police,"he said. Kodiyeri however said neither the Karnataka government nor the home ministry has contacted the Kerala government in this regard.

PDP workers burned Aryadan Mohammed in effigy Wednesday morning to protest statements made by him.