COIMBATORE: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths investigating the three bomb blast cases from 1997 have issued a proclamation order seeking the court appearance of a suspect who has been at large for around 27 years.
The proclamation order in this regard was stuck at the Kallamedu area near Selvapuram where the suspect was residing before 1997.
Police sources say one of the suspects, M Ayub alias Ashraf Ali, aged around 50, was from Kallamedu and was booked in three different bomb blast cases reported on December 6, 1997. The bombs exploded in trains stationed at railway stations in Erode, Tiruchy and Thrissur and claimed the lives of 10 people and left 72 injured.
The case is being heard at Judicial Magistrate Court VI at Tiruchy. Ayub has been absconding since 1997.
Despite a warrant being issued by the court, the suspect is still at large. The court has ordered the suspect to appear before the court on July 17, failing which he will be declared as a proclaimed offender.
Based on the court order, a team of police from Madurai unit of the ATS issued a notice about the court order to his family residing in Selvapuram, on Thursday.
A proclamation order is often referred to as a proclamation of appearance or a warrant of appearance. It is a formal public announcement issued by a court to force an individual to appear before it when the person is absconding or hiding to evade arrest or trial.