By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Karnataka police have not officially informed the state regarding the arrest of Ma’dani, said Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Whereas, the Karnataka police reportedly claim they had informed Kerala before five days itself on the matter. However, Kerala is ready to cooperate with the Karnataka police and the latter is reportedly adamant on not returning before making the arrest.
Reports suggest that there will be an arrest only after the state visit of President Pratibha Patil and the Independence Day, which need added security measures. Ma’dani would be arrested at an apt time considering the visit of the President, said Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. But it is the Karnataka police which should decide on the time of the arrest. The Karnataka police had not informed the government, Home Ministry or the DGP of the arrest. It was only a CI who talked to the Kollam SP about Ma’dani’s arrest. However, the state was ready to face any situation. He added that a decision would be taken on the matter discussing with the Karnataka police.
The Karnataka police reportedly expressed their hope that the Kerala government would keep the promise it had made regarding the arrest of Ma’dani. The three-member team of the Karnataka police had reached Kerala on Tuesday reportedly to arrest Ma’dani. The team met the Kochi City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham before going to Kollam, the district where Ma’dani resides. In Kollam, the team met the district SP Harshida Attalloori who offered them all help. However, the Kerala police had reportedly suggested that the arrest be delayed for a few days, at least until after the Independence Day.
Meanwhile, Ma’dani refused to get admitted to a hospital even though he was suffering from many ailments including high fever which had created doubts that he might be infected with the H1N1 flu. He refused to move to a hospital reportedly to avoid rumours that he was trying to evade arrest. PDP working chairman Poonthura Siraj has requested the Chief Minister and other ministers to send a medical team to Anvarsseri as Ma’dani was not able to go to any government hospital due to the case charged against him. He informed in a press conference that the Health Minister had promised to consider the matter and take the necessary measures.
PDP members yesterday burnt the effigy of Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed as ‘he was repeatedly calling Ma’dani a terrorist despite having been declared innocent in the Coimbatore case’. The party would file a contempt case against the Congress leader. Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy yesterday said that the law should take its course in the matter of Ma’dani. He refused to comment further saying it was not right to comment on a matter in consideration in court. The Muslim League also had taken the same stand on the matter that law should take its course.
Abdunnasir Ma’dani is the 31st accused in the 2008 Bengaluru blast and was named in the additional chargesheet submitted in June. A Bengaluru court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Ma’dani which was extended several times as the police maintained they were not able to arrest him. August 17 is the deadline given by the court to arrest him. Meanwhile, Ma’dani submitted an anticipatory bail plea in a fast track court and then in Karnataka High Court, the hearing of which too was postponed several times. The HC rejected the plea which prompted the Karnataka police for an immediate action. Ma’dani had planned to approach the Supreme Court but decided against it reportedly because the Karnataka police were trying to arrest him without waiting for the Supreme Court. A large number PDP leaders and members are staying at Anvarsseri, where Ma’dani resides now. The PDP members are adamant that they won’t let Ma’dani be arrested even as Ma’dani asks them to keep calm.