Tamil Nadu: Five Muslim youth arrested for plotting to kill Hindu leaders

The Special Investigation Unit of the Coimbatore police on Saturday have arrested five Muslim youth, allegedly plotting the murder of Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) leader Arjun Sampath and Hindu Munnani leader Mookambikai Mani among others.

Informing about the arrests, the police said that all the accused in the case — R Ashik, I Jafar Sadiq Ali, S Ismail, S Samsudeen and S Shalavuddin — were detained at Coimbatore railway junction on Saturday afternoon by the detectives of the Special Intelligence Unit. Police officials are of the opinion that these arrested people had planned to create tension in the festive season — Ganesh Chaturthi.

Police said that the special team acted on a tip-off and arrested four people who arrived at Coimbatore from Chennai on Saturday. They have also detained another person — who came to receive them — for questioning. After interrogating the arrested accused for 24 hours, police produced them before Fast Track Court I. The bench remanded the accused for judicial custody till September 4.

The police added that all the accused have been booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and conspiracy. Soon after the arrests, police have increased the security of the leaders of the Hindu Munnani, Sakthi Sena and allied outfits. The investigative team said that the arrests were made after they closely monitored their social media activities.

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