In the wake of the murder of BJP functionary ‘Auditor’ Ramesh in Salem, police have intensified the search for a trio wanted in connection with the planting of a pipe-bomb near Madurai on the rath yatra route of BJP leader L K Advani in October 2011.
Releasing the photographs of Bilal Malik alias Bilal, Fakrudeen alias ‘Police’ Fakrudeen and Panna Ismail alias ‘Melapalayam’ Ismail, police on Sunday announced a reward for information leading to their arrests.
In the ‘Pipe Bomb’ case police nabbed seven people including Dharves Moideen, brother of ‘Police’ Fakrudeen, believed to be the mastermind behind the crime.
However, it did not lead to any breakthrough.
The renewed search also comes after last week’s arrest of Mohammed Hanifa alias Nagoor Hanifa from Tenkasi, a key accused in the pipe bomb case, a senior official told Express.
Bilal Malik is suspected to be involved in the murders of R Kalidas, vice-president of Hindu Makkal Katchi, and ‘Poosari’ Gangadharan in 2005. He is also reportedly involved in the attack on RSS pracharak Dindigul Bhaskar in 2008.
Fakrudeen went with the prefix ‘Police,’ as his father was a head constable. He was in prison for about seven years in connection with a murder case and came out in 2008.
After assaulting ACP Vellaithurai in Madurai during a vehicle check in October 2011, he escaped and has been absconding.
Panna Ismail was acquitted in two murder cases, but after being involved in a bomb case, he went underground.
According to the officer, of the four murders and attacks on functionaries of Hindu outfits in the recent past, only two were actually communal in nature.
“Real estate motives were behind the murders of BJP leaders Aravind Reddy and Paramakudi Murugan,” he pointed out.
With regard to the ‘Auditor’ Ramesh murder case, he said police had obtained vital clues.
“Three assailants were involved in the attack and there is a witness to the incident,” he added.