‘Police’ Fakruddin met State secretary of Hindu Munnani S Vellaiyappan, a day before murdering him, according to CB-CID.
Fakruddin and his associates —Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik— who were arrested from their hideout in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday - killed Vellaiyappan on July 1 opposite Ramakrishna Mutt at Muthumandapam in Vellore.
Sources in the CB-CID team confirmed Fakruddin’s meeting with Vellaiyappan on June 30 while the latter was leading a series of street corner campaigns against the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR & CE) department’s move to take over Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple in Vellore Fort.
The source further said Fakruddin had introduced himself as a member of the right wing hailing from Salem. Fakruddin had a conversation with Vellaiyappan after he delivered a speech against the HR & CE’s move to take over the temple near fish market on June 30. Before leaving, Fakruddin exchanged visiting cards with Vellaiyappan.
Police said that Fakruddin and his associates had also aimed to murder Hindu Munnani’s Vellore zone president K Mahesh along with Vellaiyappan. Fakruddin revealed that Mahesh would have been killed, had he not been caught.
N Anbumani, a member of Hindu Munnunai, said he was along with Vellaiyappan when a well-built youth approached him had a conversation with him. “He wore a full sleeve shirt and pant. The youth was clean shaven and the way he spoke, gave us the impression that he was a Hindu.”