Kollam tense ahead of Madani's arrest

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Shreyas Menon

14 August, 2010

Prior to his arrest, Madani had filed for an anticipatory bail in the Karnataka High Court which was eventually rejected. He has now move to the Supreme Court with the bail petition.

TENSION PREVAILS in Kerala's Kollam district after the Kerala government confirmed that a Karnataka police team will arrest Peoples Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani. Kollam is the stronghold of Madani, who is under the scanner for his alleged role in Bangalore blasts in 2008.

Madani is accused of triggering the 2008 Bangalore blasts and police officials claim that he can be arrested at any point of time. Earlier, Madani was also accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts, which had killed more than 50 people. He was later acquitted in the case.

Prior to his arrest, prohibitory measures have been issued and security tightened near the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader's camp in Anwarserry, Kollam as scores of people including women and children gathered in front of his residence. With force mobilisation being carried out on a large scale across Kollam, the police and administration has cordoned off 1-kilometer area near Madani's residence.

The Karnataka police team has temporarily set up their camp in Kerala since the last four days as they were waiting for the state government's approval to arrest Madani. Prior to his arrest, Madani had filed for an anticipatory bail in the Karnataka High Court which was eventually rejected. He has now move to the Supreme Court with the bail petition.

Kerala's Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Friday said that Madani's arrest will be carried out by the Karnataka police when the time is right. As of now, President Pratibha Patil is in the state ahead of Independence Day celebrations. He also said that for carrying out the arrest procedure, the Karnataka government had sought Kerala government's help.