The Hindu : Foreign training in `explosives' causes concern

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Foreign training in `explosives' causes concern

By K.T.Sangameswaran

CHENNAI March 9. More than the cases pending against the two militants, Imam Ali and Hyder Ali, who escaped in Madurai district on Thursday, what is causing concern to police authorities is the ``foreign training'' in explosives the former is said to have had nine years ago.

A total of five ``sensational cases'' had been registered by the State Police and the CBI against the two for serious offences such as murder, for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race, kidnapping or abducting in order to murder and under the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act.

Of these, the case relating to the blasting of the RSS headquarters at Chetput here on August 8, 1993, handled by the CBI, is considered sensational. The powerful explosion destroyed a portion of the three-storeyed building killing several persons and injuring seven.

Besides Imam and Hyder, Ahmed Ali, popularly known as Palani Baba (since deceased) figure in the list of 18 persons cited as accused in the chargesheet, filed for offences of criminal conspiracy and murder before the sessions court here.

The two were also cited as accused in a case registered under the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act before the special court for bomb blast cases at Poonamallee.

A similar case against Imam Ali under the Arms Act is pending at Tirupur.

Both of them are accused in a case where in an explosion was conducted on an experimental basis in the hillocks of Melur in Madurai district.

According to information available with intelligence and police sources, Imam Ali was stated to have undergone training in arms and explosives in Bangladesh.

On his return, along with an associate, Imam Ali exploded a device in Madurai when they were caught by the local people, the sources say.

The two are also facing charges of cheating, kidnapping and under the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act in connection with a case before a Kovilpatti court in which five persons have been cited as accused.

Despite the sensational nature of the `RSS bomb blast case', no new Special Public Prosecutor has been appointed for the case after A. V. Somasundaram put in his papers following the change of Government in May last.

Sources in the investigating agency say that only a few more prosecution witnesses are to be examined.

After much difficulty, the duo were arrested in connection with the case.

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Southern States