5 held for plot to kill Arjun Sampath

The five accused, who were identified as Jaffer Sathik Ali, Ismayil, Samsuddin and Jalavuddin from Chennai and Asik from NH Road in Coimbatore, were believed to be sympathisers of the Islamic State, said police.

Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence wing, a police team nabbed four men, who reached Coimbatore from Chennai by train on Saturday while Asik was waiting at the railway station to receive them.  “They confessed to have hatched a conspiracy to kill Hindu Makkal Katchi founder-leader Arjun Sampath, Hindu Munnani leader Mookambigai Mani and Sakthi Sena founder Anbumari,” police said. 

The four youth from Chennai had reportedly befriended Asik on Facebook. “The intelligence wing sleuths were tracking them as their conversations were found to be suspicious. They were booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, besides other relevant sections and lodged at Coimbatore Central Prison,” police said.

Police said that Asik tracked and gathered details of several Hindu leaders including the location of their houses. Sickles and knives were also seized from them, they said.   

Inquiries revealed that a few others based in Chennai were also behind the conspiracy to kill the Hindu outfit leaders and a search is on to nab them. Meanwhile, security was strengthened at the houses of three Hindu outfit leaders. The police were on high alert after the sensational murder of Hindu Munnani leader Sasi Kumar in 2016. 

“I get threatening calls from unknown numbers whenever I express my views on television debates and in newspapers. Members of certain outfits have even tried to disrupt my participation in Ratha Yatra. However, I don’t fear such threats and I will continue to serve my people,” said Sampath.