VELLORE: Three of the ten terror suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Hindu Munnani functionary K P Suresh Kumar in Chennai and other unlawful activities had stayed along with their families in Vaniyambadi for four months to execute their murder plot.
The special investigation team probing the murder of the Hindu outfit‘s functionary brought the trio — Saddiq Basha of Bangalore, Syeed Abudhakeer and Hakkim (alias) Abdul Rahim — to Vaniyambadi around noon. “The trio were brought to Vaniyambadi for inquiry after they told police about their stay in the town,” said the police privy to the investigation.
Basha was arrested along with three of his associates from their hideout in Bangalore during a joint operation carried out by Chennai Police and Bangalore Central Crime Branch on August 7, while Hakkim was arrested along with Abu Tahir, alleged to be members of the hit-team, during the early hours of August 8 at Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus.
The police team led by assistant commissioner of Ambattur A Rajendra Kumar conducted an inquiry and searched the houses where they trio had stayed in Salamabad in Muslimpur and Zakirabad in Vaniyambadi Town. They seized a two-wheeler that belonged to Basha and other belongings left behind by their families in the rented portions.
The inquiry disclosed that Rahim along with his family had come to Vaniyambadi on March 20 this year. He took the ground floor house of one Abdul Rahman in Salamabad for rent, while Sadiq Basha and his family stayed in the first floor of the house.
After a few weeks, Abudhakeer had come to Vaniyambadi with his first wife. He stayed in a rented portion in one Mohammed Zamin’s house in Zakirabad, nearly a kilometre from Salamabad. None doubted the activities of the trio. “Within a week or two, Abudhakeer also shifted his second wife to Vaniyambadi,” said the police source.
After murdering the Hindu outfit functionary, Suresh Kumar on June 18, the trio returned to Bangalore to evade police arrest.
Sources privy to the investigation said the trio stayed with their family in Vaniyambadi to avoid suspicion over their reconnoitre operation. They carried out the murder in Ambattur.
“After executing their murder plot, the trio left for Bangalore, leaving behind their family in Vaniyambadi. The family of the three also moved to Bangalore on June 28,” said the source. He added that they suspect that the trio’s spouses were aware about their activities.
He added that they selected the Muslim populated area as they could easily mingle with the locals and because of its proximity to Chennai and Bangalore.
After their seven-hour inquiry in Vaniyambadi town, the Chennai police team left for Chennai with the trio around 7.30 pm.
“The neighbours and residents of the area were shocked to learn about the trio. They were not aware about their anti-social elements and involvement in the murder case,” further said the police official.