A 43-year-old man, who was found moving in a suspicious manner in the vicinity of the guest house where BJP leader L K Advani is proposed to stay during his visit to Salem, was apprehended on Tuesday.
The man, identified as Mohamed Ali from Nagore in Nagapattinam district, was found near the guest house of the Salem Steel Plant. Even as preparations were on to step up security around the guest house, police found Mohamed Ali holding a bag that contained a torch battery, a coil of condenser and some rice. He was taken into custody and interrogated.
DIG Salem Range Santhosh Kumar said it was a routine check and there was nothing alarming. “Mohamed Ali was one among those we would have found suspicious during routine check,” he said.
Special Branch of Salem police said the family members of Mohamed Ali were informed. “Once they arrive, more information could be elicited.”