'No Madani link to Malleswaram bomb blast'

The State police have ruled out the involvement of Kerala-based PDP leader Abdul Naseer Madani in the Malleswaram bomb blast case.

In a written reply to MLC (BJP) G Madhusudan, Home Minister K J George has stated that the investigating officers have not found any clue on Madani’s role in the bomb blasts.

Madani, who is facing several charges in the 2008 serial bomb blast case, is presently in judicial custody.

He is lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail  on the outskirts of the city.

Madani and 31 others are facing charges under IPC Sections 120(B), 121, 121(A), 123, 212, 302, 307, 326, 435, 201 and also under The Explosives Act. A chargesheet has also been filed against the accused.

The Minister also informed the BJP member that the city police have arrested 11 people for their alleged involvement in the April 17 Malleswaram bomb blast, all from Tamil Nadu.

‘Measures Taken to Thwart Terror’ 

The Minister, in his reply to another BJP member Bharathi Shetty, said the State government has taken several measures to face terror strikes, including the establishment of a separate squad - The Centre for Counter Terrorism - and is imparting commando training to its members.

The government has recently set up a special police station under the Internal Security Wing  to deal with terror related cases, the Minister stated.