"No Politics On Terrorism": Tamil Nadu Governor On Coimbatore Blast Case

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the alleged State government's delay in handing over the Coimbatore blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Friday said there should be "no politics" on terrorism.

Governor Ravi also expressed serious concern over the possible destruction of crucial evidence in a "high-profile terror plot", said Raj Bhavan.

Governor praised the police which established the car blast as a serious terror attack conspiracy within hours of the incident and lamented soft peddling by the State government. He urged "no politics on terrorism and no leniency to terrorists as they are enemies of the nation and friends of none," added Raj Bhavan.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister RB Udaya Kumar lambasted the DMK government over the law and order situation. He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should tell people what measures he had taken to prevent terrorist activities in the state.

Speaking to media persons, Mr Kumar said, "Whenever the DMK was in power, there have been continuous bomb blasts in Tamil Nadu. In 1998, there were serial bomb blasts in 11 places and more than 50 people died during the DMK regime. No terrorist attack took place during the AIADMK rule. And now when DMK is in power, terrorist attacks are taking place in Tamil Nadu."

"Chief Minister Stalin should break his silence and resolve this issue. DMK regime will be overthrown by the people if Stalin does not break his silence," he added.

NIA registered a case to probe October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion that occurred in a car.

The NIA registered the case after the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order asking the anti-terror agency to start probe into the case.

The MHA order comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended for NIA probe in the case. Mr Stalin, in a recommendation letter, to the MHA had requested on Wednesday to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area in Coimbatore to the NIA, and directed police to ensure security in Coimbatore.

Tamil Nadu Police so far has arrested six people in connection with the case, and have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Those arrested are learned to be associates of Jameesha Mubin, who was charred to death in suspicious circumstances after an LPG cylinder inside a Maruti 800 he was driving exploded near a temple around 4 am.

According to police, Mubin, 25, who was an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. His name is mentioned as the primary accused in the case.

Five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27. However, the sixth person, identified as Afsar Khan, a relative of the Jameesha Mubin, was arrested earlier on Thursday. Khan is the cousin of the Mubin. He was picked two days before by the special investigation team. On Wednesday, Police officials also conducted searches on Khan's residence and took his laptop.

Earlier on Sunday, Tamil Nadu DGP said the police found materials used to make explosives in Mubin's house in Ukkadam. They seized 75 kgs of potassium nitrate, charcoal, aluminium powder and sulphur which can be used to make explosives.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)