Cops suspect fundamentalist outfits in Advani case

MADURAI: Even as the probe into the pipe bomb planted on senior BJP leader LK Advani's yatra route was transferred to Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday, police said the role of international extremist organisations could not be ruled out in planning and planting of the bomb.
Meanwhile, S George, ADGP (Law and order) visited Alampati village near Thirumangalam in Madurai and inspected the spot where the bomb was detected, with senior police officials.Though investigations so far have not yielded any lead to zero in on the suspects, police said they are not ruling out any angles including the role of international extremist organisations.
Stating that the international extremist organisations are also within the suspicion ring, a senior police official said India-based terrorist organisations never used this kind of explosive materials. "Hence, we strongly suspect that fundamentalists from outside the country could have a role behind planning and planting of the bomb with a help of local fundamentalists," the official said. "We are also suspecting some Left extremist outfits,'' the official said.
A senior police officer said the fundamentalist groups had distributed pamphlets against Advani's yatra in Madurai as well as Kadaiyanallur and Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district. The activities of members of those outfits are being monitored by Special Investigation Team and Special Intelligence Unit (SIU).
SIU has collected details about the followers of terrorist Imam Ali who was gunned down in a police encounter in 2002. SIU sources said they have sent a team to Melapalayam of Tirunelveli district for inquiring into the activities of fundamentalists. Banned Al-umma activists are clandestinely operating from there.
Meanwhile, Y John Nicholson, DIG of SIT, SPB Vijayakumari and 10 officials of the SIT investigative team started interrogating local people from Alampatti village, where bombs were planted by unknown persons.
Police said they have found the high-intensive bomb material to be gel-90, which is used in government stone quarries, and hence have started inquiring with quarry staff in the state.
George and DGP Sanjay Mathur have also reviewed the progress in the investigation of this case with IGP and commissioner of police, P Kannappan, and Madurai rural SP Asra Garg.
A case in Thirumangalam taluk station was registered under Explosive Substances Act Rewards have been ordered for police personnel for detecting and removing the pipe bomb.