The Kuniamuthur Police have arrested a 50-year-old man who alleged he was planning to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Police said that based on orders from Police Commissioner A. Periaiah, they arrested Mohammed Rafiq alias Rafiq of Kuniamuthur, who had told a Salem car dealer, Prakash, that he had planned to kill Modi, had planted bombs in Coimbatore 1998 targeting BJP leader L.K. Advani and had damaged not 67 cars as alleged by police but 160 vehicles. The conversation was about Rafiq returning Prakash's cars.
The Police said that an audio clipping of Rafiq talking to Prakash reached Kuniamuthur Sub Inspector Damodaran through a social media platform. Therein, Rafiq also told Prakash that he had faced cases under the Goondas Act, National Security Act, Terrorist And Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and that nobody could touch him.
Based on the conversation, the Police said that Mr. Damodaran prepared a special report and sent to the Commissioner, who ordered the arrest. The Police had booked him under Sections 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language...) and 506 (ii) (punishment for criminal intimidation) for trying to provoke the supporters of Mr. Modi and BJP workers.
The Police said Rafiq, who was convicted for his role in the 1998 bomb blast, was a history sheeter.
The Police, who arrested Rafiq on Monday evening near a house in Apple Garden, Saramedu, said those who were cheated by him were welcome to lodge complaints.
Published - April 24, 2018 08:32 am IST
